"Big Time" hitting the Epic Games Store? Boss Fighters and Moonfrost’s sold-out NFT packs. In fact, headlines are screaming that Web3 gaming is finally “heating up.” Let's pump the brakes and ask a crucial question: are we truly building a decentralized revolution, or just a shinier, more complicated version of the same old game?

Is It Really Decentralization?

Epic Games Store has half a billion gamers. Immense exposure for Big Time. But let’s be real: is this true decentralization? Or is it just another Web3 game taking advantage of a centralized platform? It would be similar to installing solar on a house that’s still plugged into the old fossil-fuel power grid. You're using renewable energy, sure, but you're still reliant on the grid's infrastructure and rules. Epic still calls the shots. They could delist Big Time tomorrow. Where's the player empowerment then?

This sounds a lot like the early days of the internet! The promise was a new, fluid, decentralized, democratized space filled with information and connection. Yet, look at us now. A few major technology companies, consequently, wield unprecedented power over how information is shared with, and by, billions of people. Are we doomed to make the same mistake over again in the video game space?

Tokenomics: Empowerment Or Exploitation?

Boss Fighters “Token Burner Flex Pack” sold out in under two hours, and Moonfrost’s VIP mystery boxes disappeared in three minutes. The FOMO is real. Let’s dissect this. These “burn mechanics,” which reward players active enough to engage in token burns with in-game bonuses, sound groundbreaking. Who benefits most? Early adopters with deep pockets. Whales who have the ability to burn tokens daily at a whim.

It’s the digital equivalent of a casino high-roller rebate. The higher your spending, the better rewards you receive. This isn’t in itself a terrible thing, but let’s stop pretending like it’s a fair fight. The average gamer has a hard time getting used to an NFT release and a token burn. Sadly, this makes them the first to be neglected. This all stinks of artificial scarcity and monetization disguised under the banner of "player ownership."

Instead, we’re creating a system in which the majority of all in-game assets are owned by a small elite. They even dictate the meta and siphon value from the larger player base. Is this the player-owned revolution we’ve been told it was going to be, or just another kind of digital feudalism?

Ownership's Illusion, Revolution's Reality

Open Loot’s interoperability and ability to transfer assets between games is at least a step in the right direction. The freedom that comes with using one wallet everywhere and being able to easily change where your digital assets live is truly liberating.

Consider this: many traditional games let you buy and sell in-game items. The difference? True ownership. In Web3, you (theoretically) control your assets. They’re not tied to one specific title or ecosystem. Sell them through a secondary marketplace. You can alternatively use them in other compatible video games, or keep them as a speculative investment asset.

The question becomes are these assets actually yours, or are they still under the control of developers playing their own game. Will they be able to nerf your NFT into oblivion with the next patch? Can they alter the rules of the game, making your once-coveted asset turn to dust?

This is where my inner libertarian goes nuts. Authentic Web3 gaming should not just shift ownership to one party over another, but fully enable players to own their data and assets. No centralized control. No censorship. No rug pulls. Just pure, unadulterated ownership.

So what should you be, the player, developer or investor, keeping your eye on?

  • Transparency: Tokenomics should be clear, understandable, and auditable.
  • Sustainability: Burn mechanics should be designed for long-term engagement, not just short-term hype.
  • True Decentralization: Games should be built on truly decentralized platforms, not just leveraging blockchain for specific features.
  • Community Governance: Players should have a meaningful say in the direction of the game.

Web3 gaming has potential. We need to be vigilant. Let’s not settle for anything less than real decentralization, equitable tokenomics, and authentic player ownership. Otherwise, we’ll just be stuck with a remixed, but in the end still familiar, same old centralized game. Let's not let that happen. The revolution is still ours to make, but we have to make it properly.