The rise of Web3 gaming has sparked discussions on how to grow its audience and enhance player engagement. As the quality and utility of these games improve, the focus shifts to attracting a broader player base.
Roundtable anchor Rob Nelson explored these topics with Michael Wagner, CEO of Star Atlas, delving into how Web3 games can captivate more users and evolve beyond traditional gameplay.
Michael Wagner emphasized that drawing in an audience isn't solely about the caliber of gameplay development.
“In our case with Star Atlas, we are building to this AAA standard... every facet of the game is built to the best in class standards,” he said. Wagner highlighted that while high-quality development is essential, the immersive nature of digital worlds is a significant factor in long-term audience retention.
Expanding on the potential of Web3 games, Wagner explained that Star Atlas is more than just a gaming platform. "I see the universe of Star Atlas as being one in which we can really release and unveil this idea of the metaverse," he said. He added that the game offers socialization, commerce, and real monetary transactions within an interactive 3D world.
In response to a comparison made by Rob Nelson to the early community-building days of Dungeons and Dragons, Wagner broadened the conversation by referring to the book The Sovereign Individual. He described the shift towards a digital nomad lifestyle, where people choose their "sovereign state" based on economic benefits.
Wagner believes that Star Atlas offers a similar digital environment, where individuals can generate real income and participate in a global economy, regardless of their physical location.
Prior Web3 games like Axie Infinity infamously cratered in prior endeavors due to poorly designed tokenomics, as the in-game currency cratered as players rushed for the exits. Nonetheless, games where players can earn tokens simply by tapping a phone screen — in a phenomenon called tap-to-earn — is spiking back up in popularity.
Star Atlas is looking to avoid those mistakes of the Web3 gaming past by offering more than just merely speculation.