The future of NFT in gaming: how are game tokens changing the industry?

NFT (non-replaceable tokens) have become one of the most discussed phenomena in the digital world. Their application in the gaming industry opens new horizons for players, developers, and investors, creating unique opportunities for interaction and monetization.

What are NFTs in the context of games?

NFTs are unique digital assets for game objects, characters, skins, or other items. Thanks to blockchain technology, each NFT has provable uniqueness and ownership, making it valuable not only within the game but also outside of it. This radically changes the approach to game content, transforming virtual items from ephemeral objects to assets with real value.

The benefits of NFT in games:

• Authenticity and uniqueness. Players can own assets that cannot be tampered with.
• Out-of-game trading. NFTs can be sold, bought, or exchanged on third-party marketplaces such as OpenSea, Rarible, Magic Eden, Binance NFTs, and LooksRare.
• Long-term value. Even after the end of a game cycle, tokens retain their value. For example, tokens from Axie Infinity, Cryptopunks, Bored Ape Yacht Club, Decentraland, and The Sandbox show sustained value due to their rarity and popularity, even outside the gaming worlds.

Trends in the use of NFT in gameplay

The gaming industry is actively experimenting with NFT, resulting in new game formats and approaches to player interaction. Here are the key trends worth noting:

Personalization of the game experience

NFTs allow the creation of unique in-game items belonging to only one player. These include custom characters, rare artifacts, or limited edition in-game skins. Such items become a symbol of the player's status and individuality.

Interchangeability of assets between games

One promising direction is to create ecosystems where NFTs can be used in different games. For example, weapons or skins from one game can be transferred to another if both games support a certain blockchain standard. Such games include The Sandbox, Decentraland, and Illuvium, where players can use their NFT assets in different contexts and worlds. This creates a new degree of integration and expands the possibilities for players.

Play-to-Earn models

Play-to-Earn (P2E) is an increasingly popular model in NFT games. In these games, users earn tokens for completing game tasks, winning battles, or creating content. These tokens can be converted into real money, turning gameplay from a hobby into a source of income.

An example is Axie Infinity, where players farm and battle digital creatures, earning rewards in the form of cryptocurrency. The Sandbox, Gods Unchained, Splinterlands, and Alien Worlds also offer unique mechanics for earning and interacting with NFTs. This approach is particularly popular in low-income countries such as the Philippines, Venezuela, Indonesia, Brazil, and Thailand, where P2E is becoming a viable way to make money.

Collectible games

NFTs are ideal for collectibles. They can be cards, characters, or items that players collect to share or use in gameplay. Collectible games create a new form of interaction by encouraging trading and competitive spirit.

DAO in games

Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAO) are embedded in game ecosystems, allowing players to participate in decision-making. Ownership of certain NFTs can give a say in the development of a game, the choice of content, or the rules of its operation.

The role of metaverses in the development of NFTs in games

Metaverses like Decentraland or The Sandbox are becoming natural environments for NFT integration. In these worlds, players can own virtual land, construct buildings, hold events, and monetize their activities. NFTs act here as property items that can be sold or rented.

Metaverses encourage the creation of a new level of interaction between players. For example, virtual concerts or NFT exhibitions are becoming increasingly popular. This creates new forms of social interaction and commerce, increasing user engagement.

Challenges and prospects

Despite the potential, NFT in gamification has its challenges. Blockchain mining and transactions consume large amounts of energy, leading to criticism about environmental sustainability. However, new technologies such as Layer 2 blockchains and Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus are emerging that significantly reduce energy consumption.

For many players, the concept of NFT and cryptocurrencies is still complex. The need to create wallets, understand blockchain, and interact with exchanges may deter the mass audience.

The NFT market is prone to speculation, leading to drastic price fluctuations. For example, in 2021, the price of one of the tokens in the Bored Ape Yacht Club collection soared from a few hundred dollars to over $300,000 in a matter of months and then dropped to less than $150,000 as a result of a drop in interest in the market.

In addition, there are fraud risks when players buy low-quality or fake tokens. For example, there was an incident on OpenSea in 2022 where scammers posted fake collections under the guise of popular projects such as Bored Ape Yacht Club. There is also a known case of fake gaming NFTs on the LooksRare platform, where fake tokens were sold under the guise of unique assets.

The future of NFTs in gaming

The prospects for NFT in gamification look promising. Developers continue to look for new ways to integrate tokens, and major companies like Ubisoft and Epic Games have already begun experimenting with the technology. In the coming years, we can expect player interaction to deepen — games will become platforms for social and economic activity, where NFTs play a central role.

Experts also predict the integration of NFT with the real economy. Tokens from games will be used beyond virtual worlds, including services and e-commerce. In turn, simplifying technology and lowering barriers to entry will make NFTs more accessible to a mass audience.

Overall, NFTs are becoming a catalyst for the transformation of the gaming industry. Their introduction changes the usual content creation and consumption approaches, opening up new opportunities for players and developers. However, the successful development of this trend will require solving current problems and creating a sustainable ecosystem capable of adapting to the challenges of the time.