Proof of Play CEO, Amitt Mahajan, is predicting a significant increase in the use of dedicated blockchains for gaming applications. Mahajan, who previously developed the popular Facebook game Farmville, envisions a future where numerous individual blockchains support specific applications. During his time at Zynga, Mahajan had to manage around 64 databases to prevent Farmville from crashing due to its large user base. He views blockchain technology as an advanced form of database and believes that using chains as data stores is crucial for scaling applications.
One example of a dedicated blockchain for gaming is Pirate Nation, a crypto game developed by Proof of Play. Initially built on the Ethereum scaling network Polygon, Pirate Nation later switched to Arbitrum Nova due to rising gas fees on Polygon. However, relying on shared networks presented challenges as new projects launching on the same chain could increase gas fees for everyone. As a solution, Pirate Nation launched its own application-specific chain called Apex. Mahajan believes that this approach is the logical future for other apps as well.
The trend of dedicated blockchains for gaming is not limited to Pirate Nation. Other games on networks like Avalanche are also utilizing their own dedicated subnets, such as Shrapnel and Off the Grid with its GUNZ network. Treasure is also constructing its own Arbitrum-based Treasure Chain with dedicated gaming networks called “Infinity Chains.” Since launching on Apex, Pirate Nation has been filling up the chain with transactions, leading the team to consider adding additional chains to support scalability. Mahajan draws parallels to his experience in Web2 game development, where scalable architecture was necessary to support growing games. While operating multiple chains may seem burdensome, Mahajan sees it as a necessary evolution to ensure sustainable growth.
Pirate Nation’s multichain offering, starting with Apex, aims to enable other game and dapp developers to launch their own networks using Arbitrum Orbit, an Ethereum scaling technology. While there is interest from other developers, Mahajan intends to address capacity issues before expanding to external projects. Recently, Pirate Nation introduced its PIRATE token, which experienced a significant increase in value following its listing on Coinbase.
Meta, on the other hand, is aiming to revolutionize metaverse gaming by incorporating generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology. A recent job listing by Meta reveals the company’s intention to explore and prototype “entirely new types of gameplay” in the metaverse through the integration of generative AI with virtual, augmented, and mixed-reality games. The company envisions games that are non-deterministic, personalized, and capable of evolving with each playthrough, creating experiences that are currently unimaginable.
Companies like Meta, Microsoft, Tencent, and Nvidia are heavily investing in the metaverse to enhance their platforms and create new user experiences. For example, Meta has invested $50 million in global research and development for the metaverse, and Epic Games raised $1 billion, including a $200 million investment from Sony.