Professional Dota 2 player Erik “Tofu” Engel, known for his success in the competitive gaming scene, recently expressed his interest in blockchain gaming. Engel sees companies using blockchain to create “more out of games than just games.”

Gaining More From Gaming

“The idea of blockchain gaming is still a new and expanding topic for most of us, and it’s something I want to explore more in the future,” Engel said. His sentiments were echoed by Rocket League pro Max “Maxeew” Ng, who also expressed an interest in games being developed differently and rewarding players’ time and effort.

Web3 Games Spooking Major Publishers

However, this growing interest in blockchain and Web3 games has made some major publishers uneasy. In 2021, Valve Corporation, creators of Dota 2, removed blockchain-based games from its platform, Steam.

Joseph Turner, the co-founder of Gaimin Gladiators — the team that Engel and Ng belong to — believes that traditional gaming companies like Valve may eventually embrace Web3.

Encouraging Blockchain Projects in Gaming

Turner encourages blockchain projects to engage directly with the professional gaming industry, believing that “the Web3 world should directly engage the competitive gaming industry.”

Walter Lee, partner growth and GameFi leader at BNB Chain, supports this notion, emphasizing that blockchain technology could significantly enhance traditional gaming ecosystems.

The Future of Gaming in Web3

Lee sees enormous potential in the tokenization of in-game assets and other blockchain uses in gaming. He envisions a future where the rapid growth of Web3 gaming could simply redefine it as gaming, offering many opportunities for professional gamers.

Balancing the Esports Industry

“There is a surge of many interesting upcoming games from various new studios,” Lee said. These new titles could gain popularity, generating exciting esports leagues and balancing the demand between esports firms and players.