Sustainability in the crypto sector is a buzz word. From Bitcoin's price correction to the arrival of a stablecoin that can uproot the established financial order, there has been a lot of talk about making crypto sustainable.
One area of the crypto experience to have achieved a degree of sustainability is play-to-earn games. Whether we are talking casinos or more traditional games, blockchain gaming has come a long way and the play-to-earn model is definitely a contributing factor. Why is that?
You Can Earn Without Spending
Understandably, the biggest hook for players is the fact that they can earn without spending (much). Games such as Axie Infinity allow you to buy in-game assets as resources and then develop those resources to accumulate wealth.
Start-ups such as Crypto Gaming United now sponsor newcomers to the game as Axie Infinity's goods soared amid the most recent boom in interest for the title. One year ago, AXS token, the game's proprietary token, cost just $0.50 but it costs $68.60 today, according to historic data provided by Coingecko.
This has made the entry-level a little more difficult for newcomers, but thanks to Crypto Gaming United, “scholarship” arrangements are now available to support newcomers.
The idea of earning just by spending time in-game is appealing and it can definitely be feasible, but here comes another rub – is it worth spending this time in the first place and will the economic windfall be justified?
Different Regions More Inclined to Play
Axie Infinity may be a game that doesn't promise too much, although the truth is that people have been successful. One Filipino gamer bought two houses and the country is even debating taxing in-game earnings from Axie Infinity. Taxation could be a good move, but this doesn't explain why the game is more popular in places such as South East Asia.
The answer is that different regions find different value in playing a game that offers them real-money rewards. For high-income households, playing a game where a nominal amount is generated is not as appealing. In South East Asia though, the idea of gaming for money is gaining traction not just on the blockchain.
Given the sudden and sharp spike in the value of such blockchain games, people who got in early are now cashing out. This naturally makes it harder for newcomers to share the same rags-to-riches stories, but the Crypto Gaming United club and others are definitely helping.
Play to Earn Doesn't Mean It's Free
Many people, understandably, question the premise of play-to-earn games. However, their misunderstanding comes from the idea that generating AXS is free, which it is not.
Ultimately, players need to consistently put a lot of time into the games, which means that you would need to make a conscious choice about whether pursuing AXS or Smooth Love Potion (SLP) tokens is worthwhile for you.
Even if they are not “free”, these games have a lot of appeal and they give you the freedom to enjoy gaming and earn money as you go along. After all, for many people, gaming is a non-optional past-time. They just love it.
