5 Ways To Build and Scale Blockchain-Based Games

Blockchain-based gaming is disrupting the $300B+ gaming industry, which attracts close to three billion players annually. This is an exciting market opportunity for Web3 developers who can create a compelling game, grow a passionate community, and scale it across the globe.

Web3 has reimagined what’s possible for gaming experiences. NFTs introduce property rights into games, decentralized marketplaces make them transferable peer to peer, and Web3 wallets ensure they remain in the complete control of the user. Now, for 2023, the Blockchain Game Alliance is predicting that gameplay improvements, which could include dynamic NFTs that update based on real-world events or randomized outcomes, will be the single most important factor driving adoption. While individual developers and core teams lie at the heart of any successful Web3 game, their efforts can be magnified by partnering with expert Web3 gaming studios and platforms.

The following platforms, tools, and services can help Web3 game developers take their projects to the next level. With key partners, top talent, and proven histories of success, they provide an array of expertise, from game development to go-to-market strategies. Ultimately, they can help you create the exciting gameplay experiences needed to successfully scale your blockchain-based game.

Tools, Services, and Platforms for Web3 Game Devs

Whether you’re a Web3 builder or have experience in the traditional gaming industry, there’s a vast array of resources, experts, and ecosystems that can help you take the next step toward creating a popular Web3 game.

Here are five ways to build and scale your blockchain-based game.

1. Access Developer Tooling

With gameplay improvements slated to be the driver of Web3 game adoption in 2023, creating the best game possible is paramount. These tools help developers more efficiently and securely interact with blockchain environments.

Moralis

Moralis makes it easier to integrate blockchain technology into existing tech stacks. The company provides a range of APIs, guides, and tools that devs can use to build blockchain-based games.

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Hardhat

Hardhat is a Javascript-based Ethereum development environment that makes it easy to run tests, debug code, and deploy contracts. By building in a local environment, you can seamlessly refactor your code and avoid gas costs until your game is ready to launch live. Other popular developer environments include Truffle and the Rust-based Foundry.

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Alchemy

Alchemy’s SDK supports multi-chain Web3 development with scalable node infrastructure, enhanced APIs, NFT solutions, and more. The company has powered $100B+ in on-chain transaction volume and served 10M+ end users.

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Ethers.js

Ethers.js is a library for interacting with Ethereum and its ecosystem. You can use it to secure private keys, import and export JSON wallets, leverage test cases, and more.

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wagmi.sh

wagmi makes it easy for React developers to start working with Ethereum. Using React Hooks, devs can display ENS and balance information, interact with contracts, and connect wallets to applications.

2. Integrate Blockchain Infrastructure

Blockchain infrastructure underpins Web3 gaming, helping secure in-game assets, enable advanced functionality, and create a seamless user experience.

NFT.Storage

NFT.Storage provides decentralized storage and bandwidth for NFTs on IPFS and Filecoin. It can be used to store NFT metadata, images, and in-game assets.

WalletConnect

WalletConnect is a communications protocol that enables wallets and applications to connect and interact in a secure manner across Web3. It works across the desktop, Android, and iOS.

Metamask

The Web3 wallet is available as a browser extension and on mobile. With 30M+ users, many developers ensure their application is compatible with it.

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Etherscan

Etherscan is a block explorer and analytics platform for Ethereum. It makes it quick and easy to read and edit smart contracts on the blockchain.

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Chainlink Oracle Services

Chainlink gives blockchain developers an easy-to-use framework for writing hybrid smart contracts that connect to external resources by combining on-chain and off-chain computation.

Developers can leverage:

• Chainlink VRF to build fair reward mechanisms and unpredictable and tamper-proof gaming outcomes via proof of randomness.
• Chainlink Automation to reliably trigger gaming functions or distribute rewards based on preset conditions, such as regular intervals or external events.
• Chainlink Data Feeds to underpin Web3 games with real-world weather events, sports outcomes, and much more.

Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP)

CCIP, an open-source standard for blockchain interoperability, is currently being built. CCIP can enable games to expand across the multichain Web3 ecosystem and empower players to move in-game assets across chains in a seamless manner.

3. Hire Web3 Dev Shops

Developer shops provide services to help projects build applications. Leveraging Web3-native developer shops gives projects access to industry-leading programmers, designers, and other professionals with a vast array of experience building blockchain-based games.

Argon Studios

Building a team with every skill needed to launch a successful GameFi project can be challenging. Argon Studios was built to fill in the gaps within your project, whether it’s strategy, design, development, or growth marketing. These functions are supported by partnerships with a range of Web2 and Web3 companies, including Amazon Web Services, Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, Shopify, Coinbase, Stripe, Filecoin, Webflow, and Twilio.

Orange Comet

Orange Comet helps entertainers, franchises, artists, and exciting new projects create compelling metaverse experiences and Web3 games. Providing both technical and storytelling skills, Orange Comet can help projects craft and develop engaging blockchain-based games.

Landvault

Landvault is focused on helping Web3 projects monetize their presence in the metaverse and establish a profitable business. World of Women, Decentraland, and Dystopunks are just a few of the many metaverse projects that Landvault has helped build, grow, and manage. In total, the company has completed 200 builds and developed 100M square feet in the metaverse. Their 180+ in-house builders include game devs, asset builders, concept artists, vox, editors, and project managers.

Lazer Technologies

From Shopify to Dapper Labs, Lazer Technologies has helped improve the digital experience for many successful companies across Web2 and Web3. With a top-tier digital product studio composed of 60+ senior engineers and designers with backgrounds at companies including Facebook, Apple, Coinbase, Uber, and Google, they offer high-quality digital services to emerging and established blockchain-based gaming projects.

4. Partner With Launchpads

Launchpads help projects grow their games or NFT collection. Providing both technical and marketing support, they can help ensure the right audiences learn about your project.

Seedify

Seedify helps launch blockchain-based gaming projects and NFT collections. Beyond technical expertise, Seedify provides community and marketing support to help games launch successfully. If you’re a high-quality gaming or metaverse project, they may be able to help connect gamers and gaming enthusiasts with your project.

Poolz

Poolz is a blockchain-agnostic launchpad platform. To date, it has helped raise funding for 93 projects across various blockchain ecosystems. It also provides smart contract audits, marketing support, and more.

5. Join Accelerators

Accelerators empower early-stage Web3 startups with the resources, partnerships, and expertise needed to take their game from a niche audience to the mass market.  

Catheon Gaming

Catheon Gaming is a gaming distribution and accelerator platform ranked by HSBC and KPMG as the #1 Blockchain Emerging Giant in the Asia-Pacific region. It’s both a high-quality Web3 gaming platform for gamers and an ecosystem for boosting up-and-coming blockchain-based gaming projects. Its team features 67 core team members, 19 partner game studios, and 8 strategic advisors from across 37 countries, with experience from EA Sports, Activision Blizzard, PlayStation, Xbox, and more. Complementing its in-depth knowledge of the gaming industry, the platform provides projects with a plug-and-play SDK, a game explorer and launcher, and a NFT secondary marketplace.

Icetea Labs

Icetea Labs supports Web3 games with project incubation, advisory partnerships, project launch, and a developer hub. To help support projects using its platform, it has partnered with Amazon Web Services, Filecoin, Polygon, Certik, and many others. MetaGods, DeRace, NFTrade, and many more are already using this platform.

Poolside

In partnership with Polkastarter, a multichain platform that supports decentralized protocols, Poolside is helping Web3 startups fast-track their launch with a pool of Web3 experts, access to capital, and go-to-market strategy.

Conclusion

Developer tooling, blockchain infrastructure, and developer shops provide builders with the foundations to create an advanced, engaging, and innovative Web3 game. However, for real success and to achieve wide adoption, platforms such as launchpads and accelerators can be critical for integrating into a gaming ecosystem, reaching a wider audience, and growing a strong community. Moreover, Web3’s interoperability can provide opportunities for collaboration across the space.

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