Predictions for the Future of Blockchain Gaming 🎮
Amitt Mahajan, the founder and CEO of Proof of Play, the developer behind the crypto game Pirate Nation, envisions a landscape where thousands of dedicated blockchains support individual applications. Drawing from his experience in creating the viral Facebook game Farmville, Mahajan views blockchain as a sophisticated database system.
The Shift to Application-Specific Chains
Initially, Pirate Nation operated on the Ethereum scaling network Polygon but transitioned to Arbitrum Nova due to escalating gas fees on Polygon. However, reliance on shared networks posed challenges, as a new project launch could lead to increased gas fees for all users on the chain.
- February marked Pirate Nation’s consideration of launching chains for itself and other developers using Arbitrum as part of a project known as Multichain.
- The game now sails on its application-specific chain, Apex, a move that Mahajan views as the inevitable future for other applications seeking to control gas costs efficiently.
The Rise of Dedicated Blockchains
Across various blockchain networks, a trend emerges where games establish their distinct subnets for enhanced scalability. Games such as Shrapnel and Off the Grid’s GUNZ network on Avalanche and Treasure’s Arbitrum-based chain signify a shift towards dedicated gaming networks.
- Pirate Nation’s transition to its application-specific chain has been productive, with plans underway for a second chain to accommodate growing user demand.
- The game’s expansion necessitates multiple chains to cater to increased user numbers, reflecting Mahajan’s vision of branching out to support network growth effectively.
The Necessity of Scalable Architecture
Mahajan draws parallels between the challenges faced in Web2 and Web3 development landscapes, emphasizing the need for scalable architecture to sustain the expansion of digital products. In the context of rising network fees in blockchain gaming, the focus shifts from game crashes to network congestion-induced fee hikes.
- Despite operational complexities associated with multiple chains, Mahajan perceives the implementation as a strategic move towards product enhancement and scalability.
- The adoption of multiple chains mirrors Mahajan’s prior experiences in navigating scalable architecture challenges while developing popular Web2 games.
Hot Take: Embracing Multichain Ecosystems 🔥
Embracing the concept of multichain ecosystems, Pirate Nation’s launch on its fully on-chain Apex network signifies a pivotal shift towards infinite scalability. By leveraging dedicated networks powered by Arbitrum Orbit, the project aims to offer a scalable platform for game and dapp developers seeking to launch their own networks.