Gone are the days when esports were considered a dubious form of competitive entertainment that might die out at any time. Today, it’s a billion-dollar industry with intense tournaments, millions of fans, and a future that is predicted to shine even more brightly. But what exactly will this future entail?
The tech part of our world keeps developing, with innovations coming out and disrupting the regular flow. With this in mind, if you squint hard enough, you’ll see that esports is moving toward Web3. This shift is gradual enough to remain unnoticed, but it will happen, and the LightningStorm game is the bearer of this transformation.
Why Esports Is Leaning Web3
Web3 is a vision for the next generation of the Internet represented by such features as blockchain technology, decentralization, and token-based economics. By default, its existence means that large corporations will lose some of their control over online users, while users will be able to maintain ownership over their data and whatever online interactions they initiate.
For esports, the shift to Web3 is already well underway, and we can easily see it on the example of gaming industry trends. A growing number of players want to make payments with crypto to guarantee their anonymity. Many of them are eager to try Lightning Storm for real money because this PvP crypto game offers a live chat where they can interact with their competitor and the host while maintaining their privacy. It’s an excellent representative of Web3 entertainment, and we can expect esports to follow suit — here is why.
Why Web2 Doesn’t Cut It Any Longer
More and more people find Web2 games underwhelming, and the key reasons usually include:
- Lack of ownership. Players spend tons of money on in-game weapons, skins, and characters, but they don’t own what they bought, not really; one external decision from the provider, and they will lose access to everything they’ve bought.
- Skewed revenue model. Esports revenue is shared between major players only; smaller parties receive next to no rewards, and this includes actual tournament participants who are just starting out.
- Limited innovations. Web2 games are closed to innovations: if someone wants to build on top of a specific game, they need to get a million permissions and licenses from the publisher, a fact that is limiting the creativity of fans and players.
- Centralized systems. When large, centralized corporations own games and control the tournaments and the share of rewards, people express intuitive distrust and suspicion, which compromises the principle of fairness.
Perhaps you’ve faced a situation where you invested heavily in a game only to be banned or lose access to your account later. Unfortunately, you can’t do anything about it: even if you spent tens of thousands of dollars, you won’t get the things you bought back. This is where Web3 comes into play.
Key Benefits of Web3 Esports
In 2024, annual investment in Web3 gaming has reached $1.8 billion worldwide. On the one hand, it’s a decrease from the previous year; on the other hand, it’s still a lot, meaning that people are interested in seeing Web3 gaming flourish.
Web3 model can turn esports fans into actual participants with their own stakes, and it can benefit the players just as heavily. Take a look at these perks:
- Tokenized incentives. Earning tokens for participation, excellent performance, and other community contributions will empower every person involved in esports.
- Recorded achievements. Every competition and achievement will be recorded and kept indefinitely; this data won’t be lost or erased without a second thought, like it happens within the Web2 model.
- Open gaming ecosystems. Developers, tournament organizers, and players themselves can collaborate and introduce changes to esports.
- DAO-based governance. Decentralized Autonomous Organization-based governance means that a community makes decisions; no single authority is hoarding all the rights.
Note that Web3 esports benefits aren’t limited to the ones in the list.
LightingStorm as the Esports Web3 Trojan Horse
LightingStorm is an example of a Web3 game that has already become wildly successful. The fun fact is, most people who try it and become fans have no idea that this game operates on a Web3 basis.
What makes players hesitant about Web3 gaming despite this model being much more beneficial? For the most part, it’s the typical fear of the unknown.
Consider one of the Web3 elements, such as cryptocurrencies. Research shows that while crypto ownership keeps growing gradually, over 60% of Americans have no interest in buying it. People feel intimidated by blockchain, and while this resistance is being eroded, it happens slowly.
LightningStorm is competitive and innovative; it has high payouts and dynamic animation. Direct contact with a host and another player makes it more exciting than numerous other games. There are bonus rounds and special features, and since it’s a Web3 game, a community can contribute by diversifying it further in any way they like.
So, what makes LightningStorm a Trojan Horse? At first glance, it looks normal: just another fast-paced game that is fun to watch and play. However, it’s powered by Web3 tech, which takes its players to a whole new level of independence.
Esports fans who discover LightningStorm get used to its mechanics, and when they realize it’s a Web3 game, it is already too late. They understand what kind of opportunities they have, which makes them more open to the esports’ shift toward Web3.
Web3 as the Future of the Esports Industry
There is no doubt that Web3 is the future of the esports industry, and LightingStorm is proof that this shift is inevitable. For now, we have a paradox: people are intimidated by the concepts of crypto and decentralized gaming, but they love reaping their perks. The LightingStorm game has multiple fans, yet only some of them understand that this is a Web3 game.
By explaining what Web3 means for esports in simple terms, we can raise awareness among a wider audience. This can accelerate the process of Web3 adoption, and with some luck, esports will become more independent in the near future.
