Play to earn economies as base layer protocols for games

We are in the first wave of web3 games. Right now, we’re seeing many of them focused on play-to-earn. They’re mostly about the money instead of prioritizing fun and engaging gameplay. If web3 gaming remains tuned in this way – focused on those looking to earn rather than play – then we fear it will never be mainstream and many projects will fail.

Persistent Environment, Liquid Resources. Because of clarity around goals and metrics, players should be able to join and leave companies on-demand, like Uber drivers with specialized skills, aiding in the quest when most useful.

Many people are rightly skeptical about the play-to-earn model in gaming.The most important question that will determine the destiny of the industry is this: can more money flow out of a game than what was put in?

Play to Earn: a 0 to 1 Explainer This is the first thread in a series on P2E games, which will run every other day starting today until my brain is empty. H/t @AriannaSimpson, @gabusch, & @cdixon, who've each contributed different mental models to my thinking on this topic.👇

The proliferation of crypto guilds, communities and esports leagues around these earn-first games are evidence that earning opportunities are key to these games. Guilds like YGG and Merit Circle (which just raised $100m+) only exist and are trading at large premiums because of the earning opportunities that are offered within the earn-first games t... See more