Gaming is an extremely popular pastime among more than two billion people. It’s so popular that the gaming industry is now valued at $173.70 billion with estimates suggesting that it will sit atop the quarter trillion dollars mark in the next five years.
Unfortunately, despite the huge growth trend, there has always been a one-sided industry. It’s almost always that only the gaming studios can turn in a profit while users only pay for in-game assets they do not even have ownership of. For many, making a living from gaming has been an impossible dream. The play-to-earn model (P2E), however, offers new opportunities. Thanks to crypto and blockchain!
Blockchain and CryptoPowered P2E Games: The Change of Blockchain
Gaming has become a business model and not just an entertainment option thanks to blockchain technology.
Play-to-earn, blockchain-based online games allow users to make crypto and are often cited as an additional source of income. John Aaron Ramos from the Philippines is a crypto player who claims to have bought two houses with only revenue earned by playing Axie Infinity. This fantasy P2E game allows players to earn cryptocurrency.
In-game rewards have proven successful. Users can earn cryptocurrency for playing their favorite game. Clash Crush Block, for example, is a fantasy-based game where players can earn crypto through completing challenges within the game. This game has a similarity to Candy Crush, but it offers the bonus of free cryptocurrency.
Similar to NFTs, the P2E market is powered by NFTs. This allows users to trade, buy and sell in-game products (as NFTs), even if they are not on the gaming platform. Axie Infinity, Decentraland and others are using the Ethereum blockchain for the ability to trade in-game items via NFTs through OpenSea or other NFT marketplaces.
Gaming Industry Problems and Solutions
It is difficult to implement a play-to earn model. Most industry professionals admit the P2E-based crypto-based games face many challenges before they gain widespread acceptance.
One major challenge for P2E platforms would be eliminating the potential anti-money-laundering risk since users will trade the in-game NFT products against crypto. Although developers acknowledge that regulations will need to be in place, most feel the biggest problems are internal and not within the control of the authorities.
A second problem is that gamers could earn money through gaming, which would encourage abuse and hate among them. This would lead to the destruction of the entire ecosystem. Additionally, many gaming platforms waste money on useless upgrades that do not benefit anyone but themselves.
But, there are ways to overcome the challenges facing the industry. Citrus, which is a gaming token that seeks to transform gaming, may be one such solution. Through the DeFi ecosystem and advanced DApps it offers a variety of solutions for the blockchain industry.
Citrus has strict KYC/AML policies in place within the gaming industry to help reduce money laundering. Citrus also has a reporting system that ensures there are no hate crimes or abuses in games.
Citrus plans to make better utility apps and dApps, as well as tokens, using the funds from the platform.
Citrus’s ultimate goal is making P2E easier and more scalable. Citrus uses features like an audited 100% code, low-cost and reliable investment models, high-speed transactions, as well a secure, compliant, and fully audited source code.
P2E: The Future
Play-to-earn may still be a relatively new idea, but it could have a significant impact on the entire gaming landscape. Citrus and other P2E platforms like it are likely to make gaming safer, easier, more profitable, and much more trustworthy. Citrus’ self-sovereign banking system, open creative economy, universal digital representation, and ownership could be a key booster to P2E’s rapid growth.