Web3 Gaming’s New Champion?
aelf, recognized for its prowess as a high-performing layer-1 blockchain network, has unveiled its latest initiative, aelevate. Designed to bridge the chasm between Web2 and Web3, aelevate is structured to financially and technically back gaming studios, particularly those with an inclination towards blockchain gaming. But what’s the bigger picture here?
- aelevate: A transition program from Web2 to Web3 for gaming studios.
- Financial support: Grants of up to US$150,000 per gaming studio.
- Objective: Enable developers to integrate, construct, and debut their games on the aelf network.
Blockchain Gaming’s Promising Horizon
The momentum in the blockchain gaming industry is palpable. Predictions by industry analysts Naavik and MarketsandMarkets capture a compelling narrative: the blockchain gaming sector could see its market size burgeon to US$50 billion by 2025. This is a whopping tenfold leap from the US$10 billion figure of 2022. User engagement is slated to follow suit, with the number of daily users potentially increasing from 1 million in 2022 to a staggering 10 million by 2025. Furthermore, Drakestar’s 2022 report underscores the influx of investments into the domain, indicating that gaming and blockchain-centric VC funds accumulated over US$13 billion in 2022 alone, with US$4 billion being injected into roughly 400 blockchain gaming entities.
Unveiling aelevate’s Offerings
aelevate isn’t just a grant program. It’s a holistic support system aiming to fuel studios’ transition into Web3 through monetary incentives, technological guidance, and business acumen. aelf’s extensive ecosystem and network partners are all geared up to offer deep insights into the many facets of blockchain, from technology and interoperability to user dynamics, game publishing, and leveraging cloud and AI.
Diving deeper into the tech arena, studios stand to benefit from aelf’s robust and scalable blockchain infrastructure. How? aelf is rolling out open-source software development kits (SDKs) tailored for its mainnet. These kits are instrumental in facilitating games to engage with aelf’s mainchain and sidechains. Another notable tool is the SDK for aelf’s native contract account wallet, Portkey, specifically crafted to manage in-game digital assets like NFTs and Tokens. The cherry on the cake? Studios can craft and execute their smart contracts on aelf, providing them the luxury to administer game mechanics, showcase cross-chain NFTs and fungible tokens, and tap into aelf’s cross-chain bridges for assets from diverse chains.
Tavia Wong Weighs In
Tavia Wong, aelf’s Head of Commercial, elucidated aelevate’s underlying ethos. The program, she emphasized, is a testament to aelf’s commitment to bolstering Web2 gaming studios in their foray into the Web3 realm. By mitigating the intimidating hurdles that studios face when integrating blockchain into their games, especially given the volatile crypto environment, aelf is cementing its position as a staunch supporter of the Web3 gaming sector.
Aelevate: Breaking Down Benefits
Successful aelevate entrants can anticipate comprehensive support on two key fronts:
- Technological Ecosystem:
- Support for a blockchain-ready gaming ecosystem: asset integration, tokenization, smart contract, and side-chain creation.
- Access to dApps like Portkey, eBridge, and Forest within aelf’s ecosystem.
- Insights and guidance on blockchain, interoperability, game publishing, and more through aelf’s partners and network.
- Business Ecosystem:
- Mentorship in tokenization, market entry strategies, and user outreach.
- Access to aelf’s fundraising initiatives and investor connections.
Prospective developers, here’s a heads-up: aelevate is currently accepting applications, which will be open until 30th September 2023. The first batch of fortunate grant recipients will be announced in October 2023.
Hot Take
The launch of aelevate by aelf marks a pivotal moment for the Web3 gaming domain. By acting as a catalyst for traditional Web2 gaming studios, aelf is not only promoting the broader adoption of blockchain technology but also nurturing the future leaders of Web3 gaming. As the gap between Web2 and Web3 narrows, the gaming landscape is poised for some exhilarating evolution. Keep your controllers and crypto wallets ready!
