If 2024 started slowly for Mysten Labs in terms of gaming on its Sui L1 blockchain, the tempo has picked up significantly since.
Multiple titles including NDUS Interactive’s Xociety, SNK’s Shodown Samurai R, Animoca’s Darktimes, Gumi’s Brave Frontier Versus, and Sega’s Code of Joker have all joined the network. Recently, NHN’s Pebble City launched on Sui and in late 2024 top esports outfit Team Liquid also relaunched its fan engagement platform MyBlue on the blockchain.
Although this remains a relatively small slate of content, in combination with the launch of the SuiPlay0X1 PC gaming portable which is expected later in 2025, Sui could well be set to serve as a catalyst to wider web3 adoption.
We checked in with Mysten Labs co-founder and CPO Adeniyi Abiodun (X) to discuss how 2025 is shaping up for gaming on Sui.
BlockchainGamer.biz: Given current sentiment, why is gaming a key sector for Sui in 2025?
Adeniyi Abiodun: Gamers will help drive not only mass usage of chains in the form of active wallets, transactions, and asset value creation, but they will also lead the charge of DeFi onboarding for web3 newcomers.
Gamers are already used to digital assets including digital currencies, so when they learn they can put those assets to work, particularly in a gamified fashion (earning rewards or farming airdrops, for example), they will inevitably spill over into DeFi activities as well.
What do you consider to be Sui’s biggest hope in terms of gaming – SuiPlay0X1, general infrastructure, or a particular game?
Sui’s biggest hope lies in the ecosystem it is building, through amazing games like XOCIETY and initiatives like the SuiPlay0X1, which aims to drive adoption among developers and traditional gamers.
The general infrastructure that prioritizes scalability, efficiency, and speed serves as the backbone for success.
What do you think is required for mass adoption of web3 in gaming?
Mass adoption requires seamless user experiences, low-cost transactions, and robust ecosystems that players can interact with easily. Combining high-quality gaming experiences with the ease of web2 onboarding is key to drawing in mainstream players. Players are more open to exploring how digital ownership enhances their experience if a game, game company, or IP already resonates with them.
Why do you think gamers have been so resistant to blockchain?
I don’t believe it is a resistance per se. I think the real barrier for blockchain gaming has just been the overuse of blockchain-related terminology for games. Traditional gamers seeing NFT, web3, and other terms frequently used is foreign and unknown to them.
The emphasis shouldn’t be placed on blockchain elements being ingrained in a game but rather on the blockchain-based games themselves being fun to play. If a developer makes a solid experience for the user, the players will come, no matter what their experience level is with web3-related elements.
How do you see the intersection of AI and games playing out on Sui?
With Sui’s infrastructure, AI can power next-gen gaming experiences, from autonomous NPCs to real-time decision-making in dynamic game environments. The continuous evolution of AI in gaming will enhance gameplay and create more immersive worlds.
How does blockchain gaming grow the pie rather than fighting over slice size in 2025 and beyond?
Blockchain-powered gaming will expand the market by offering new opportunities for value creation, such as true ownership of in-game assets and new monetization models. This inclusivity will create a broader, more sustainable gaming ecosystem.
In a gaming market hit by mass layoffs due to rising user acquisition costs and stagnation in gameplay and business model innovation, blockchain technology will enable new player experience paradigms, creating better stickiness for games via improved retention and monetization, ultimately growing the pie rather than continuing to fight over the existing slice.
Find out more at the Sui Play website.
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