The Winter of Web3 Games: The Dilemmas and Solutions Behind the High Failure Rate

Recently, several well-known Web3 game projects have announced their shutdowns, drawing widespread attention from the industry. From the brief wave of excitement brought by the launch of the blockchain game "MapleStory N," adapted from "MapleStory," to the successive collapses of projects like Ember Sword and Nyan Heroes, the Web3 gaming industry seems to have fallen into a winter.

According to statistics, by 2025, 17 Web3 games will have ceased operations. The failures of these projects are mainly attributed to factors such as a shortage of funding, a deteriorating market environment, and player attrition. However, the high failure rate is not an issue unique to Web3 games. The traditional gaming industry also faces severe challenges, with a mortality rate of 83% for mobile games within three years.

The dilemmas of Web3 games are mainly reflected in the following aspects:

1. Financing model cools: The phased financing model is proving difficult to implement in the current environment. Investor enthusiasm in this field has waned, with Web3 game projects raising funds in the first quarter of 2025 down 68% compared to the same period last year.

2. User retention difficulties: Airdrops and token incentives struggle to maintain long-term user retention, leading to a rapid decline in game activity.

3. The promise of asset ownership is difficult to fulfill: so-called "decentralized assets" still heavily rely on centralized game servers and developer support. After a game is shut down, NFTs and tokens often lose their practical use and value.

4. Lack of cross-platform asset interoperability: The significant differences between different types of games make it practically difficult to realize asset circulation across platforms.

5. Investors feel greater loss: Compared to traditional crowdfunding models, Web3 game investors often invest more funds, facing real money evaporation when projects fail, leading to a stronger sense of loss and betrayal.

In the face of these challenges, industry experts suggest that Web3 game developers should:

1. Prioritize the quality and playability of the game itself, rather than introducing tokens or NFTs for monetization too early.

2. Return to the core elements of the game, such as characters, narrative, gameplay experience, and community interaction.

3. Value-driven and technological essence should be emphasized to make Web3 games truly fun and enjoyable.

Only by addressing these fundamental issues can Web3 games emerge from their current predicament and regain the confidence of players and investors.