Close Menu
  • Coins
    • Bitcoin
    • Ethereum
    • Altcoins
    • NFT
  • Blockchain
  • DeFi
  • Metaverse
  • Regulation
  • Other
    • Exchanges
    • ICO
    • GameFi
    • Mining
    • Legal
  • MarketCap
What's Hot

Will Speculation Turn to Reality?

17/09/2025

Bitget Wallet adds crypto purchase support for Apple Pay and Google Pay

16/09/2025

Bitcoin mining stocks outperform BTC as investors bet on AI pivots

16/09/2025
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
  • Back to NBTC homepage
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
X (Twitter) Telegram Facebook LinkedIn RSS
NBTC News
  • Coins
    1. Bitcoin
    2. Ethereum
    3. Altcoins
    4. NFT
    5. View All

    Price Breaks All-Time High Record Again – Here’s What We Know

    04/08/2025

    Bitcoin Switzerland? El Salvador to Host First Fully Native Bitcoin Capital Markets

    04/08/2025

    Bitcoin Breaks $119K, but XLM and HBAR Aren’t Impressed by Its Meager Percentage Gain

    04/08/2025

    High-Stakes Consolidation Could Define Q3 Trend

    04/08/2025

    Ethereum ETF Frenzy Pushes Investors Toward This New Small-Cap

    16/09/2025

    Ether could see the ‘biggest bear trap’ this month: Analysts

    15/09/2025

    Ethereum Whale Cashes Out Millions in DAI After Price Rally: $13.2 DAI Earned

    15/09/2025

    can $4,300 support prevent a deeper correction?

    15/09/2025

    The Sui Ecosystem’s Top 3 Altcoin Performers

    29/07/2025

    Floki Launches $69000 Guerrilla Marketing Challenge With FlokiUltras3

    28/07/2025

    Crypto Beast denies role in Altcoin (ALT) crash rug pull, blames snipers

    28/07/2025

    $1.6 Billion XRP Surge: Here’s What’s Unfolding

    28/07/2025

    LimeWire Acquires Fyre Festival, Plans Fresh Start With a Crypto Spin

    16/09/2025

    American Express Introduces Blockchain-Based ‘Travel Stamps’

    15/09/2025

    NFT sales show modest recovery, Pudgy Penguins jump 110%

    14/09/2025

    Twerk From Home Aims to Become the UFC of Exotic Dancing—With a Crypto Boost

    13/09/2025

    Will Speculation Turn to Reality?

    17/09/2025

    Bitget Wallet adds crypto purchase support for Apple Pay and Google Pay

    16/09/2025

    Bitcoin mining stocks outperform BTC as investors bet on AI pivots

    16/09/2025

    eToro EU Approved for Crypto in Germany, Custody Remains with Tangany

    16/09/2025
  • Blockchain

    Can Decentralized Indexing Save Web3?

    16/09/2025

    UFC Expands Web3 Partnership with Fightfi’s Fight.ID Platform

    16/09/2025

    ICB Network Partners with Tectum to Pioneer Zero-Fee PayFi Transfers in Web3

    16/09/2025

    ATT Global Taps For Metas to Advance Web3 Ecosystem

    16/09/2025

    Philippine lawmakers push blockchain budget bills in House

    16/09/2025
  • DeFi

    Unlocking a New Era of DeFi Security

    16/09/2025

    Likwid.Fi Partners with RabitAI to Unlock DeFi Lending/Derivatives Trading Potential

    16/09/2025

    Maple Expands to Plasma with Launch of syrupUSDT, Backed by Tether

    16/09/2025

    Symbiotic teams with Chainlink, Lombard for cross-chain Bitcoin security

    16/09/2025

    TVL on Pumpfun’s DEX PumpSwap Breaks New High Above $330M

    16/09/2025
  • Metaverse

    KaratDAO and SecondLive Partners to Reshape Web3 Identity and Immersive Digital Worlds

    16/09/2025

    Metaverse ‘still has a heartbeat’ as NFT sales jump 27% in August

    12/09/2025

    CreataChain Joins LightCycle to Advance Fashion, Interoperability, and AI in Metaverse

    05/09/2025

    new institutional ‘trust’ layer to boost tokenized ESG investment

    04/09/2025

    Metaverse developer The Sandbox lays off 50% of staff and pivots to meme coin launchpad

    28/08/2025
  • Regulation

    CZ says stablecoins have defeated CBDCs globally, how come?

    16/09/2025

    Stablecoin Usage Ramps up in Venezuela Amid Rampant Devaluation

    16/09/2025

    South Korean Tech Giant Unveils Bold Crypto

    16/09/2025

    New ETF Filings Hint at Broader Crypto Product Boom Ahead

    16/09/2025

    JPMorgan Says Fed Won’t Cut Interest Rates in September, Explains Why!

    16/09/2025
  • Other
    1. Exchanges
    2. ICO
    3. GameFi
    4. Mining
    5. Legal
    6. View All

    Will Speculation Turn to Reality?

    17/09/2025

    Bitget Wallet adds crypto purchase support for Apple Pay and Google Pay

    16/09/2025

    eToro EU Approved for Crypto in Germany, Custody Remains with Tangany

    16/09/2025

    Binance and the U.S. Department of Justice Reportedly Close to Reaching an Agreement: BNB Price Soars

    16/09/2025

    ICO for bitcoin yield farming chain Corn screams we’re so back

    22/01/2025

    Why 2025 Will See the Comeback of the ICO

    26/12/2024

    DeBox Partners with Mythoria to Merge AI-Led GameFi and Web3 Social Ecosystem

    16/09/2025

    Crypto Games Keep Shutting Down. This $500K Fund Aims to Help Players Recover

    14/09/2025

    Conflux Network and Salvo Alliance Targets Scalable Web3 Gaming Adoption

    13/09/2025

    Undeads Games TVL Reached $30M+

    12/09/2025

    Bitcoin mining stocks outperform BTC as investors bet on AI pivots

    16/09/2025

    DL Holdings to Enter Bitcoin Mining Through Convertible-Bond Deal

    16/09/2025

    Why Bitcoin Miners Are Powering AI’s Expansion

    14/09/2025

    Bitcoin’s Computing Muscle Flexes Harder

    13/09/2025

    Coinbase-backed petition pushes UK on blockchain and stablecoin policy

    15/09/2025

    China Imposes New Cryptocurrency Bans! Here Are the Details…

    15/09/2025

    Input Output Joins CryptoUK to Help Shape UK’s Digital Asset Future

    15/09/2025

    CFTC Nominee Brian Quintenz tells all in Winklevoss twins fight

    15/09/2025

    Will Speculation Turn to Reality?

    17/09/2025

    Bitget Wallet adds crypto purchase support for Apple Pay and Google Pay

    16/09/2025

    Bitcoin mining stocks outperform BTC as investors bet on AI pivots

    16/09/2025

    eToro EU Approved for Crypto in Germany, Custody Remains with Tangany

    16/09/2025
  • MarketCap
NBTC News
Home»GameFi»Back to the basics: Strong IPs are the endgame for blockchain gaming
GameFi

Back to the basics: Strong IPs are the endgame for blockchain gaming

NBTCBy NBTC11/03/2025No Comments6 Mins Read
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email


Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to the author and do not represent the views and opinions of crypto.news’ editorial.

Web3 gaming is fast, chaotic, and full of adrenaline—quick wins, viral mints, and meme battles. It thrives on hype cycles that come and go in an instant. But once the excitement fades, what’s left? If all web3 gaming has to offer is short-lived thrills, it’s running on borrowed time.

You might also like: The web3 gaming knowledge gap and how to bridge it | Opinion

It’s time to go back to the basics. Web3 gaming isn’t just about layering blockchain and crypto onto games. At its core, gaming is about fun—the thrill of the chase and the experiences that keep players engaged long after the initial hype fades. And what fuels that lasting engagement? The strength of its intellectual property, or IP.

Some may see IP as merely a monetization strategy relevant only to publishers and studios. However, after two decades of working on multiple game titles, it’s evident that IP is far more than that. It’s what keeps players coming back, investing their time, and forming lasting memories. While perfecting that experience is no easy feat, it’s not impossible—and it’s the key to the future of blockchain gaming.

IP is more than just aesthetics

For years, conversations about IP have revolved around characters and world-building. Iconic franchises like Marvel are instantly identifiable due to their compelling stories and memorable heroes. However, gaming follows a different blueprint. Unlike films or comics, games are interactive, with mechanics, progression, and in-game economies shaping player engagement. In gaming, IP isn’t just about visuals; it’s about the core elements that make a game truly immersive and rewarding to its audience.

For a game to have long-term value, whether in web2 or web3, developers must first recognize what sets it apart. What keeps players engaged over time? Which aspects of the experience hold the most value for them? This is where value creation begins. The strongest IPs are built on the unique in-game experiences that keep players engaged.

Consider Gran Turismo. While the IP of cars featured in the game belong to their respective manufacturers, Gran Turismo’s identity is built around precision driving mechanics and realism. Similarly, Counter-Strike has remained dominant for decades—not because of deep lore but because of its high-stakes competition and skill-based economy. Players don’t return for the story; they return for the challenge of improving, competing, and mastering the game.

If a game’s true value lies in its competitive depth, progression, or item economy, then its mass adoption strategy and experience should enhance those elements. Once developers identify what makes their game truly compelling, the next question is: How can blockchain elevate that experience?

Achieving true utility

Web3 gaming has often followed a predictable cycle: token launches, NFT drops, speculative pumps, and sudden crashes. But blockchain shouldn’t replace good game design. Instead, it should reinforce the core strengths of a game—its IP, economy, and player-driven systems.

For games where item collection and progression are central, blockchain can help preserve item value, enforce scarcity, and prevent inflation. If a game has an active player-driven economy, blockchain can introduce ownership mechanics, real-world asset integration, and open market tradability. The key is applying blockchain in ways that enhance what already works rather than forcing new monetization models just for the sake of web3 integration.

Some of the longest-running games in history, like MapleStory, have item-based progression loops at their core. Players grind for better weapons, armor, and gear—items that represent skill, effort, and dedication. By tokenizing game items, blockchain introduces a new layer of value and interoperability. Items are no longer static, locked into a single server, or vulnerable to developer resets. Instead, they become persistent, tradable assets that retain value across the ecosystem.

Likewise, by enforcing capped supply models with tailored gaming protocols, blockchain can prevent unchecked inflation in gaming economies. Instead of items becoming obsolete with every update, their value grows alongside the game and ecosystem, making every grind a worthwhile journey for players. Gaming protocols can further power player-driven economies, where item demand, scarcity, and upgrades are dictated by real market interactions rather than a single entity.

This model has been working for MapleStory Universe (MSU), a web3 adaptation of MapleStory. According to Helika’s onchain data, MSU has seen more than 17M onchain transactions, i.e. in-game item trading and minting, during its recent user tests, with one in five (25,685) users playing the game for more than 5 hours every day. Players minted 85,957 items during this period, proving that when an IP is well-defined and aligns with player engagement, players are engaged even without crypto trading driving participation. When we harness the true power of blockchain in games, the industry can move away from extractive monetization and toward sustainability ecosystems, where value creation is tied to real engagement and effort, not speculative pumps.

Blockchain gaming at its crossroads

To unlock blockchain gaming’s potential, we must return to the basics: building gaming IPs that create lasting experiences while leveraging blockchain’s transformative power.

Crypto is often associated with making money, but its true power lies in transforming entire systems. Financial systems have been decentralized, and gaming ecosystems are next. We need more than fleeting meme pushes. Blockchain games should be built on a foundation where every grind, every transaction, and every expansion strengthen the ecosystem.

That’s what will separate the next generation of web3 games from the hype cycles of the past. Not just speculative assets but a thriving, player-driven economy that rewards skill, effort, and strategy. A game where players aren’t just consumers but active participants in an ecosystem that grows with them.

Because, in the end, hype fades. But a strong IP lasts.

Read more: From Hollywood to web3: The future of gaming lies in IP licensing | Opinion

Sunyoung Hwang

Sunyoung Hwang is the CEO and Executive Producer of NEXPACE, the web3 arm of global game developer Nexon, and the creator of MapleStory Universe (MSU). Under his leadership, MSU is pioneering web3 innovation and excellence in the gaming industry by unlocking new in-game economic models and community applications. With over 17 years of game development expertise, Sunyoung previously served as the Executive Producer of MapleStory, a flagship title by Nexon with over $5 billion in lifetime revenue and over 250 million users worldwide. He has also held leadership roles for MapleStory in Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as for other renowned titles such as Mabinogi.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
NBTC

Related Posts

DeBox Partners with Mythoria to Merge AI-Led GameFi and Web3 Social Ecosystem

16/09/2025

Crypto Games Keep Shutting Down. This $500K Fund Aims to Help Players Recover

14/09/2025

Conflux Network and Salvo Alliance Targets Scalable Web3 Gaming Adoption

13/09/2025

Undeads Games TVL Reached $30M+

12/09/2025
Add A Comment

Comments are closed.

Top Posts
Get Informed

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest news from NBTC regarding crypto, blockchains and web3 related topics.

Your source for the serious news. This website is crafted specifically to for crazy and hot cryptonews. Visit our main page for more tons of news.

We're social. Connect with us:

Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn RSS
Top Insights

Will Speculation Turn to Reality?

17/09/2025

Bitget Wallet adds crypto purchase support for Apple Pay and Google Pay

16/09/2025

Bitcoin mining stocks outperform BTC as investors bet on AI pivots

16/09/2025
Get Informed

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest news from NBTC regarding crypto, blockchains and web3 related topics.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.