Former Age of Empires producer addresses the adoption of blockchain in gaming

The Web3 gaming sector has attracted much interest in recent months. Some of the largest video game publishers, such as Square Enix and Ubisoft, have already integrated Web3 technology into their offerings. The former producer of Age of Empires, Peter Bergstrom, has ventured into the Web3 gaming space and is bringing blockchain technology into the traditional video games sector.

Former Age of Empires producer talks of blockchain adoption in gaming

While speaking during an interview with crypto news publication Cointelegraph, Bergstrom addressed the factors that determined the success of a game title and why most blockchain games were struggling to find their footing.

Despite the increased popularity of the GameFi industry, there are concerns that the area is still not compelling to most gamers. Additionally, none of the GameFi publishers are yet to have a competitive edge over traditional video games. According to Bergstrom, there was little effort to create a user-friendly GameFi ecosystem.

Nevertheless, he noted that there was still a possibility of Web3 finding a solid audience. This will happen after AAA game developers integrate Web3 technology and release popular titles. Additionally, these games will reach a larger audience if publishers use non-traditional means of advertising, adopt artificial intelligence, and if there is a merger between leading Web2 and Web3 companies.

Bergstrom also talked about the factors that drove the mass adoption of a game. He said rewards and a good gaming experience were important in mass adoption. He noted that successful game designers integrated new designs and gameplay into what was already in existence.

“Crypto investors are the new Web3 financiers of games, venture capitalists (VC) and individual investors alike – as opposed to the traditional Web2 publishing funding model that is primarily controlled and monopolized by large tech companies,” Bergstrom added.

Supporting the growth of GameFi

Bergstrom, who has previously worked at some of the largest gaming publishers, including Microsoft Game Studios and Sony Interactive Entertainment, noted that the GameFi sector was about bringing the best gameplay experience to Web3 games.

The executive further noted that crypto investors were the financial supporters behind some of the top Web3 games alongside venture capitalists and individual investors. He opined that the funding strategy used in Web3 was different from the one used in Web2 as, in the latter, funding was largely controlled by giant tech companies.

He added that GameFi players would become the early adopters of Web3 games, as seen in the explosive adoption of Axie Infinity in the Philippines. The GameFi industry has 3.09 billion players globally, and even if 1% of these players moved to Web3 games, it would signal notable adoption.

According to Bergstrom, there was little concern about the technology behind a game. Instead, players were more interested in creating a good game, incorporating blockchain, NFTs, and play-to-earn dynamics. Additionally, integrating new technologies, such as AI, could create a good game and lead to more people buying.