Discover the 2023 Blockchain Game Alliance report on blockchain gaming. Explore MENA's rise, Oceania's impact, and industry trends worldwide.
Blockchain Game Alliance 2023: Insights and Trends
Global Impact and Emerging Regions
MENA's Strategic Ascendance
- MENA is emerging as a key player.
- Dubai and UAE's regulatory clarity boosts investment.
- Dubai's $4 billion metaverse commitment.
- Saudi Arabia invests $50 million in Animoca Brands.
Oceania's Impact and Limited Representation
- Oceania's innovation with projects like Immutable X and Illuvium.
- Low survey representation at 1.7%, but significant global influence.
Survey Demographics: Insights into Industry Professionals
Diverse Roles and Rich Experience
- 320+ companies participated, reflecting industry diversity.
- 43.5% from gaming studios.
- Majority (54.8%) with 1-3 years of experience, from bullish to bear markets.
Dominance of Senior Leadership
- 70.7% of respondents in senior positions.
- Positions range from founders to executives, indicating industry maturity.
Unveiling Diverse Roles in Web3 Gaming
- 29.3% in "Other Contributors" category.
- Roles include freelancers, content creators, esports players, and more.
- Indicates evolving nature of industry roles.
Professional Experience and Roles
Industry Expertise: A Varied Skill Set
- Respondents' expertise spans gaming (34.2%), crypto (21.7%), development (10.8%), marketing (8.7%), and sales/management (15.2%).
Roles Across the Industry Spectrum
- 39.7% are founders or C-level executives.
- 31.0% are non-executive managers.
- Diverse roles highlight the industry's collaborative nature.
A Glimpse at Respondents' Companies
Diversity in Industry Contributors
- 320+ companies participated.
- Notable contributors: The Sandbox, Yield Guild Games, Upland, and more.
- Reflects a dynamic and diverse ecosystem.
Future Exploration and In-Depth Analysis
Setting the Stage for Deeper Analysis
- The report sets the stage for future explorations of roles, diversity, and regional contributions.
- Highlights the need for continuous, in-depth analysis.
Survey Methodology: A Rigorous Approach
- Conducted by BGA and Emfarsis.
- 22-question survey launched at Gamescom.
- Used SurveyMonkey for data collection.
Blockchain Gaming Benefits and Industry Voices
True Digital Ownership: A Paradigm Shift
- 76.2% cite asset ownership as blockchain's top benefit.
- Reflects a transformative shift in player control and in-game resource management.
Benefits of Blockchain Gaming
- Asset ownership remains the top benefit.
- New revenue and player reward models are significant.
- Emerging trends include interoperability and DAOs/community governance.
Industry Voices on True Digital Ownership
- Aleksander Larsen of Sky Mavis highlights the growth from a small community to a robust industry.
- Emphasizes collaboration and industry change.
Future Outlook: Mainstream Adoption
Mainstream Adoption Predictions
- 52.1% believe blockchain tech will be leveraged by 20% of the gaming industry within the next 12 months.
- Optimism about the industry's widespread impact.
Industry Leaders' Perspectives
- Yat Siu (Animoca Brands) and Tim Dierckxsens (Venly) emphasize blockchain's revolutionary impact.
- True digital ownership and decentralization are key themes.
Conclusion: Blockchain Game Alliance
Guiding the Future of Blockchain Gaming
- Industry professionals and thought leaders shape the trajectory of blockchain gaming.
- The 2023 State of the Industry Report serves as a guide through the dynamic landscape.
- Emphasizes true digital ownership, diverse roles, and global collaboration.
- Continuous engagement and staying connected ensures active participation in the industry's growth.
In order to shed light on the industry's challenges and opportunities, the Blockchain Game Alliance (BGA) is starting a full study of the 2023 blockchain gaming scene. Based on responses from 536 professionals around the world, this study shows the current state of blockchain gaming, including its effects on emerging regions, survey demographics, professional experiences, and important people who work in the industry. You can read the report here.
Global Impact and Emerging Regions
MENA's Strategic Ascendance
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region emerges as a strategic player, attracting significant investments due to regulatory clarity in places like Dubai and the UAE. Dubai's $4 billion commitment to metaverse development and Saudi Arabia's $50 million investment into Animoca Brands position MENA as an attractive hub for web3 services.
Oceania's Impact and Limited Representation
Oceania, a powerhouse of blockchain gaming innovation with projects like Immutable X, Gods Unchained, and Illuvium, maintains a low representation at 1.7% in the survey. Notable contributions from this region underscore its influence on the global stage.
Survey Demographics: Insights into Industry Professionals
Diverse Roles and Rich Experience
With over 320 companies participating, the survey reflects the diverse tapestry of roles within the blockchain gaming industry. Gaming studios constitute 43.5% of respondents, emphasizing the industry's diverse expertise. Majority of respondents (54.8%) bring one to three years of experience, offering insights spanning the bullish market of 2020-21 through the current bear market.
Dominance of Senior Leadership
An impressive 70.7% of respondents hold senior positions, ranging from founders to executives and non-executive managers. This prevalence of experienced professionals underscores the industry's maturity and the wealth of insights contributing to the survey.
Unveiling Diverse Roles in Web3 Gaming
The category "Other Contributors" represents 29.3% of survey respondents, emphasizing the diverse roles within web3 gaming. This category includes freelancers, interns, content creators, KOLs, community managers, moderators, professional esports players, and more. The evolving nature of the industry suggests a need for in-depth exploration of this diversity in future surveys.
Professional Experience and Roles
Industry Expertise: A Varied Skill Set
Respondents bring diverse professional experiences, with 34.2% emphasizing gaming expertise, 21.7% in crypto, 10.8% in development, 8.7% in marketing, and 15.2% in sales and management. This rich skill set contributes to the well-rounded perspectives reflected in the survey.
Roles Across the Industry Spectrum
A breakdown of roles reveals 39.7% as founders or C-level executives, 31.0% as non-executive managers, and 29.3% falling into the "Other Contributors" category. The significant representation of varied roles underscores the industry's collaborative and multidimensional nature.
A Glimpse at Respondents' Companies
Diversity in Industry Contributors
The survey boasts responses from over 320 companies, showcasing the industry's diverse tapestry. Notable contributors include The Sandbox, Yield Guild Games (YGG), Upland, Star Atlas, DappRadar, Game7, Polygon, Binance, Square Enix, Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Georgia State University, and more. These entities contribute to the industry's diverse and dynamic ecosystem.
Future Exploration and In-Depth Analysis
Setting the Stage for Deeper Analysis
The 2023 State of the Industry Report not only captures the current state of the blockchain gaming sector but also sets the stage for future explorations. As the industry continues to evolve, deeper analyses of roles, diversity, and regional contributions will be crucial for a comprehensive understanding of this transformative space.
Survey Methodology: A Rigorous Approach
The report's findings are grounded in a robust methodology. The BGA, for the third successive year, partnered with consulting firm Emfarsis to conduct the survey and analyze its responses. The survey, consisting of 22 questions, was launched at Gamescom, Cologne, Germany, and closed on October 9, 2023. Emfarsis utilized SurveyMonkey for the survey, employing various channels for distribution, including the BGA Member Database, LinkedIn, email, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Telegram.
Blockchain Gaming Benefits and Industry Voices
True Digital Ownership: A Paradigm Shift
"In 2023, asset ownership for players was cited as the top benefit that blockchain can bring, according to 76.2% of the respondents." This paradigm shift underscores the transformative power of blockchain, providing players with true ownership, enabling them to trade, collect, and truly control in-game resources.
Benefits of Blockchain Gaming
The resounding consensus across the years positions asset ownership for players as the top benefit. New revenue models and player reward models consistently hold strong positions. The evolving industry landscape reflects changing attitudes, with interoperability, DAOs/community governance, and optional creator royalties making notable appearances.
Industry Voices on True Digital Ownership
"When we launched Axie Infinity in 2018, our core community was 300 people strong and only a handful of other projects were building alongside us." Aleksander Larsen, Co-founder and COO of Sky Mavis, highlights the journey from humble beginnings to a robust industry where builders and leaders collaborate to change the gaming landscape.
Future Outlook: Mainstream Adoption
There is a strong belief that mainstream adoption will gain momentum in 2024, with more than half (52.1%) of respondents confident that at least 20% of the gaming industry will likely leverage blockchain technology within the next 12 months. This optimism underscores the industry's potential for widespread impact.
Industry Leaders' Perspectives
Voices from industry leaders, including Yat Siu (Chairman, Animoca Brands) and Tim Dierckxsens (Co-founder and CEO, Venly), emphasize the revolutionary impact of blockchain gaming. True digital ownership, decentralization, and transformative power are recurring themes in shaping the industry's future.
Conclusion Blockchain Game Alliance
As blockchain gaming evolves, industry professionals, enthusiasts, and thought leaders play a pivotal role in shaping its trajectory. The 2023 State of the Industry Report serves as a compass, guiding stakeholders through the dynamic landscape. With a foundation built on true digital ownership, diverse roles, and global collaboration, the industry stands poised for continued innovation, creativity, and transformative growth. Engaging in the ongoing discourse and staying connected to the pulse of blockchain gaming ensures active participation in the journey toward a future defined by true ownership, decentralized communities, and groundbreaking gaming experiences.
