As the years pass, game creators continue to surprise gamers with new games that have interesting features. Consider the impact that the release of Hogwarts Legacy or God of War: Ragnarok had! Awe-inspiring games usually leave players wanting more, resulting in a massive demand in the business.

Globally, almost 3.09 billion individuals play video games on a regular basis. The figure is predicted to reach 3.32 billion by 2024 and will continue to rise. So, what mechanics do successful games employ to fulfill the demands of such a diverse audience?

The most well-known and popular games in the world typically include pay-to-play or play-to-earn principles. What will be your decision when it comes to creating a game? My Infinity Games professionals would happily offer their knowledge regarding P2P and P2E games in this post to assist you in making a game and decision.

Pay-to-play (P2P) video game require the user to purchase an online service subscription in addition to a gaming console, PC, game discs, or other hardware. P2Ps are more appealing to gamers who enjoy high-quality games since they often provide better images and audio than free-to-play games. In addition, the user may be persuaded to buy extras such as virtual goods and in-game currency.

WHAT ARE PAY-TO-PLAY GAMES

Grand Theft Auto V, The Last of Us, FIFA 17, and God of War Ragnarok are famous pay-to-play games.

The new gaming paradigm based on Blockchain technology is known as play-to-earn (P2E). P2E games (also known as crypto games) include NFTs and cryptocurrencies into the gameplay. They provide gamers with the possibility to earn incentives or cryptocurrency while playing.

Users in this games type are encouraged to spend more time playing and accomplishing tasks in order to earn additional prizes. This may make the game more interesting and satisfying for players since they feel compensated for their time and effort.

WHAT ARE PLAY-TO-EARN GAMES

Guild of Guardians, Alien Worlds, and Axie Infinity are popular P2E games in 2023.

The introduction of pay-to-play games a few years ago caused quite a stir. Since then, more and more people have become interested in games, both those who want to make money from gaming and those who are prepared to pay for a premium experience.

The recent growth of P2E games has enhanced gaming accessibility. Many play-to-earn games, for example, provide free play or need only a little initial expenditure. As a result, they appeal to individuals who do not have the means or access to purchase traditional consoles and games.

These are the benefits for gamers; what about game developers? P2P and P2E games provided new ways for game developers to commercialize their work. In addition to selling the game, game creators can provide digital items or in-game reward systems that can be transferred to the real world. Game developers may improve income and sustain player interest by routinely delivering new material and updates.

There are certain key distinctions between pay-to-play and play-to-earn games that should be considered. We’ve gathered the six most important:

PAYMENT MODEL

Pay-to-play games require users to pay in advance to have access to the game. Play-to-earn games are often free to play and allow users to earn prizes or bitcoin by playing.

PLAYER MOTIVATION

P2P games drive players to proceed through the game and fulfill its objectives, frequently by purchasing extra aid on the fly. P2E games encourage players to collect various assets that may be turned into real-world currency.

MONETIZATION

Pay-to-play games often make money by selling in-game goods or DLC, whereas play-to-earn games might make money by charging transaction fees on trades or selling the game’s cryptocurrency. Read more in our post «Maximizing Your Profits: The Ultimate Guide to Game Monetization»

PLAYER BASE

Players that are willing to pay for a superior gaming experience are drawn to P2P games. Meanwhile, P2E games appeal to those who want to earn prizes with real-world value.

GAMEPLAY MECHANICS

Play-to-earn games frequently feature distinct gameplay features meant to facilitate the winning and exchange of rewards. Pay-to-play games, on the other hand, may be more focused on classic game features such as fighting, puzzle solving, or exploration.

COMMUNITY BUILDING

Play-to-earn games frequently generate a strong community among players, who may exchange earning tactics or trade cryptocurrencies with one another. Pay-to-play games have communities as well, but they are less concerned with the game’s revenue strategy.

We’d want to delve deeper into this issue because play-to-earn is a newer gaming feature compared to pay-to-play.

P2E games benefit both gamers and game creators. Let’s begin with gamers. Because crypto games feature safe asset ownership in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) with unique IDs, P2E games allow you to earn real money while playing without worrying about data breaches. Furthermore, play-to-earn gamers build large communities that exchange vital knowledge, such as winning methods.

Creating play-to-earn games gives up immense blockchain possibilities for initiatives for game makers. Furthermore, as the P2E ecosystem grows, the revenue of developers who create these games grows. It’s also worth noting that trend-setting is important. Play-to-earn games provide new trends to the gaming industry, enhancing the possibilities for future improvements. These games expose us to a completely new range of player options that go beyond simply playing.

In November 2022, the crypto game Alien Worlds alone had 690,380 users, and the number has steadily increased since then. There are up to 492,000 active gamers in other P2E games. The popularity of play-to-earn games is expected to rise in 2023 and beyond.

WHY SHOULD YOU TRY P2E GAME DEVELOPMENT

The creation and investing in play-to-earn games can provide several advantages:

  • Increased player participation. Play-to-earn games encourage players to put in more time and effort in order to win prizes. This enhanced involvement may result in improved retention rates and more frequent gameplay sessions.
  • Marketing expenditures have been reduced. P2E games may generate a lot of buzz and word-of-mouth advertising, which can reduce the need for costly marketing initiatives.
  • New revenue sources. Play-to-earn games can generate revenue by selling in-game products and collecting fees on transactions involving the game’s cryptocurrency. This has the potential to generate new income streams for the organization.
  • Community development. P2E games may help players form a strong community, which leads to increased player loyalty and advocacy.
  • Advantage in the marketplace. Play-to-earn games are still in their infancy. Companies who adopt this technique early on may have a competitive edge over competitors that use more traditional game development models.
  • Opportunity for creativity. P2E games need distinct game mechanics and systems to enable the earning and selling of rewards, which can result in novel and original game ideas. This can help the firm stand out in a congested market and attract new and intriguing players.

You haven’t seen the entire potential of blockchain if you simply equate play-to-earn games with slots and casinos. Crypto games can be so much more! So, what kinds of games can be P2E?

  • Adventure
  • Simulation
  • RTS & MMORTS
  • Action
  • RPG
  • FPS & TPS

For example, when working with Immutable, we created Guild of Guardians, an RPG play-to-earn game. It is a fantasy action mobile game in which players form their own «Guardians» and compete for legendary, tradeable riches. More than 230,000 people have signed up for the game’s waiting list, and the number of players is anticipated to grow following the game’s debut.

Pay-to-play and play-to-earn games are both popular nowadays. The choice between P2P and P2E paths is ultimately yours. When deciding on the game style and criteria, consider the sort of reward system that will work best for your game and how you want to profit.

In either case, we’re here for you! My Infinity Games is a mobile game production firm with large experience building high-quality P2P and P2E games in a variety of genres. Our specialists have successfully produced blockchain gaming solutions for the world’s largest game publishers, such as Immutable, using cutting-edge technology.

Our skilled game development and game design teams are committed to provide your users with an enjoyable and safe playing environment. Do you have an idea? Send us a brief note and we’ll get started on your game right away!