4 ways established gaming companies need to evolve for play-to-earn

Listen — gaming companies need to evolve. If you were to take that as a one-off statement with no context, it would still be true in a whole host of ways. But I do mean it in a specific way! If gaming publishers want to adapt to play-to-earn models, they have some changes that need to be made. After all, it’s not as simple as just snapping your fingers and making in-game NFTs the next huge phenomenon.

Play-to-earn gaming is definitely a thing that is happening and will continue to happen. In fact, there are whole narratives around what P2E means for the crypto world. So here are 4 ways legacy gaming companies need to evolve for play-to-earn gaming.

Update existing games

One of the first things legacy gaming companies need to evolve is their integration of blockchain elements into existing games. For example, Ubisoft is integrating NFTs into its Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint game. Transitioning into play-to-earn gaming doesn’t happen in one giant step, it can be progressively adapted in multiple ways in existing games as well as in new blockchain games.

Partner with blockchain developers

A key way gaming companies need to evolve is by creating new games that are natively built on blockchain with play-to-earn gaming mechanics. Of course, the best way to accomplish that is to partner with blockchain devs who are already working on creating games in the cryptosphere. Zynga, whose claim to fame was Farmville back in the frenzied Facebook gaming days, has already partnered with Forte to help launch a blockchain gaming initiative for the company. More partnerships like that should be around the corner.

Embrace Web3

As more and more elements of gaming utilize decentralized protocols, more and more Web3 infrastructure will be needed. The whole point of crypto gaming is to innovate and improve on old gaming models. That includes online gaming on Web2. Gaming companies need to evolve with the web and adapt to what’s coming. And hey, if the gaming big boys end up helping build Web3 infrastructure to adapt to play-to-earn models, the rest of crypto will thank them.

Image management

The last thing existing gaming companies need, not only to adapt to play-to-earn models technologically, but to actually succeed is: image management. There’s a strong sentiment both in the gaming community and the crypto community that big gaming companies are simply apeing into a trend to make money. If they want to succeed, they need to win their gaming audience over as well as the new crypto audience they’re courting.

Gaming companies need to evolve right now

Legacy gaming companies have a tough hill to climb if they want to embrace play-to-earn gaming. Not only will it take time, money, partnerships, and an innovative mindset, it will also take a lot of really well-executed PR. What do you think? Will legacy gaming be able to successfully adapt to play-to-earn models?