In this in-depth podcast episode, host Nico Vereecke is joined by gaming industry expert Eric Kress from Gossamer Consulting Group and Web3 analytics professional Devin Becker. Together, they explore a wide range of topics that are shaping the future of the gaming industry.
The discussion begins with an analysis of the current state of Esports and the integration of blockchain technology, where both guests express concerns about the viability of existing business models and performance. They touch upon the success of Rainbow Six Siege, a game with significant marketing spend on eSports, and the financial struggles faced by major eSports organizations like FaZe.
The conversation then shifts to the bullish outlook on console and PC gaming, with the expectation of continued growth as hardware availability increases. The guests also touch on the potential release of the Nintendo Switch 2 and their skepticism regarding the concept of a universal metaverse.
Next, they delve into the challenges faced by mobile gaming due to Apple's privacy policies and the increasing dominance of tech giants like Apple and Google. They predict that mobile gaming will struggle in the coming years, with companies like Platyka, Scopely, and Fun Plus needing to adapt and build capabilities for other platforms.
The guests also explore the potential for bringing free-to-play mechanics and monetization strategies from mobile to console games while maintaining a balanced gameplay experience. They discuss the idea of creating separate modes and matchmaking systems for players who wish to pay-to-win and those who do not.
Nico, a prominent evangelist for Web3 in gaming, shares his belief that by 2030, 90% of games will incorporate Web3 technologies, primarily for payment purposes. The guests examine the role of NFTs and fungible tokens in reducing churn and enabling new game mechanics, acknowledging the challenges of user onboarding and friction.
The episode concludes with a discussion about various upcoming games, as well as the importance of transaction velocity in mobile gaming and the potential misalignment of incentives when platform owners like Microsoft acquire premier games such as Call of Duty.
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