Written by lesley, Footprint Analytics

The world of web3 games saw modest growth in July 2023, but user adoption remains a persistent challenge for many projects. According to data from Footprint Analytics, the number of active blockchain games increased slightly to 2,471. However, only 9% of these (226 games) attracted more than 1,000 monthly users. 

While funding was down from previous months, investments such as Binance Lab's $15 million backing of Xterio show continued interest in the potential of Web3 gaming. Sui 8192 also made waves by enabling frictionless blockchain gaming with no barriers to entry. Its rapid user adoption points to the expansive possibilities of blockchain-integrated gaming.

While Web3 gaming faces hurdles such as subdued crypto prices, its core value proposition of true ownership and interactivity continues to intrigue developers and users alike. With thoughtful design and accessible experiences, Web3 gaming may soon reach a tipping point toward mainstream adoption.

Data of this report was obtained from Footprint's GameFi research page. An easy-to-use dashboard containing the most vital stats and metrics to understand the Web3 Game industry, updated in real-time, you can find all the latest about prices, projects, funding rounds, and more by clicking here. 

Key Points

Crypto Macro Overview

• Despite the surge, Bitcoin ended the month at a lower value of $29,230, down around 4% from its opening price of $30,587 on July 1.

Overall Web3 Game Market

• Among the 2,471 games in the market, only 679 managed to attract more than 10 users on a monthly basis.

• In July, the peak of user interaction was reached on July 28th, with an impressive 1,014,190 users engaged in various protocols and games. 

Web3 Game Chains

• BNB chain hosts 30.5% of all engaged games.

• Sui 8192, a full on-chain game built on Sui blockchain by Ethos, has broken the entry barrier to the blockchain game with impressive user and transaction data on its blockchain.

GameFi Projects Overview

• The marriage of sports and blockchain technology offers a new perspective on engagement, interactivity, and the potential for true ownership of in-game assets.

• The cryptocurrency market has seen its fair share of price fluctuations, with StarShip leading the way in terms of the most significant price change.

GameFi Investment and Funding

• July has only two funding rounds for game-related projects. This decline in funding rounds has been consistent since April.

• Delabs Games Raises $4.7 Million to Build on Polygon

• Binance Labs Invests $15M in Web3 Gaming Startup Xterio

What’s new in this month?

• Footprint Unveils Comprehensive GameFi Data Solution Alongside Free API Services

• Google Play Store officially allows NFT games, but not gambling ones

• Stepn Creator's Next Game Is a Social MMO Called Gas Hero

• Meta Aims to Recharge Lagging Horizon Worlds Metaverse With New In-House Game Studio

• Blockchain Game ‘Sui 8192’ Surpasses Solana’s Network Activity

Crypto Macro Overview

Throughout July 2023, the value of bitcoin remained mainly in the range of $29,000 - $31,000. The cryptocurrency reached a one-year high of $31,400 on 13 July, its highest value since July the previous year. 

Market Cap: GameFi Tokens vs BTC

However, despite this surge, Bitcoin ended the month at a lower value of $29,230, down around 4% from its opening price of $30,587 on July 1.

In particular, muted summer trading activity and a lack of short-term positive catalysts likely contributed to Bitcoin's decline. 

However, as Rachel Lin, CEO of decentralised futures exchange SynFutures, pointed out, Bitcoin's dip below $30,000 may represent a brief correction in an overarching bullish trend. This perspective reinforces bitcoin's resilient trading range between $29,000 and $31,800 since mid-June, undeterred by factors such as interest rate hikes, inflationary fears and other macroeconomic concerns.

Overall Web3 Game Market

The number of games continued to grow in July, increasing from 2,459 in June to 2,471.

Monthly Active Games by Active Gamers

However, among the 2,471 games, only 679 managed to attract more than 10 users on a monthly basis; 226 selected games reached the milestone of attracting more than 1,000 monthly users, representing 9% of all games. This contrast underscores a significant challenge facing a significant portion of these protocols - limited user adoption.

Game Active Users

In July, the peak of user interaction was reached on July 28th, with an impressive 1,014,190 users engaged in various protocols and games. On this day, Alien Worlds stood out with 202,533 users, accounting for nearly 20% of the whole market, underscoring the important role that flagship games play in driving the total number of active users. However, there was a slight decrease in user engagement on July 30th, with the number of active users dropping to 692,940.

This month, the number of transactions starts at 19.63 million and then gradually decreases to 18.09 million by the end of the month. Despite these fluctuations, the overall trend remains stable.

Web3 Game Chains

Active Games Shared by Chain

In the current month, a total of 1,177 active games have sustained user engagement through their respective game contracts. Particularly noteworthy is the BNB chain, which hosts 30.5% of all engaged games.

As of July 31st, two standout games within the BNB ecosystem have successfully drawn an active user base surpassing 10,000 individuals: "Hippo Dash," developed by Gameta, and "SecondLive." This accomplishment underscores these games' ability to capture a significant audience, emphasizing the pivotal role of innovative gameplay and captivating concepts in generating substantial user engagement.

In the current landscape of blockchain gaming, there are still significant barriers to entry. Sui 8192, however, has broken the entry barrier to the blockchain game with impressive user and transaction data on its blockchain. 

SUI 8192

The rules of Sui 8192 are simple: move numbered blocks in four directions, merging identical blocks to accumulate their values until you reach the target number, 8192. Surprisingly, each block movement triggers a transaction that changes the state of the game objects. Although seemingly simple, Sui 8192 holds immense potential for the gaming industry. Not only does it democratize blockchain games, making it accessible from any internet-connected device, but it also imbues the gameplay itself with persistence, integrating it into players' digital assets. While trading or gifting games may seem less practical at the moment, this functionality sets a groundbreaking example for future DApps.

The transactional immediacy of each in-game move, quickly processed and seamlessly integrated into the online experience, is a testament to the power of the Sui network. Sui's potential lies not only in its ability to process transactions in parallel, but also in its horizontal scalability, achieved by adding nodes to meet increasing demand. This dual capability ensures consistently low transaction fees, even as more games and decentralized applications migrate to the platform.

With more than 40 games already taking advantage of Sui's transformative potential within the first few days of its mainnet launch, it's clear that Sui's vision transcends the boundaries of "blockchain games". It empowers game developers to enrich player experiences through the possibilities of Web3 gaming.

GameFi Projects Overview

Ethereum Hot Games

The blockchain game Sorare on Ethereum has attracted significant attention and has emerged as a frontrunner in terms of user engagement. With 3,037 active users last month, Sorare has made a remarkable entrance, surpassing The Sandbox and Axie Infinity in terms of user numbers.

Sorare operates as a blockchain-powered game that introduces a novel concept where users, called managers, can purchase and trade non-fungible tokens (NFTs) representing elite athletes and participate in competitive events, giving users the opportunity to engage with their favorite sports in an innovative and immersive way.

Ultimate Champions New Users

Similarly, Ultimate Champion remains at the top of the game on Polygon, with the second position secured on BNB Chain. Ultimate Champions is a unique, free-to-play fantasy football and basketball game featuring officially licensed digital cards hosted as NFTs on the blockchain.

The success underscores the powerful synergy between sports and blockchain games. The marriage of sports and blockchain technology offers a new perspective on engagement, interactivity, and the potential for true ownership of in-game assets.

Token Price Change

The cryptocurrency market has seen its fair share of price fluctuations, with StarShip leading the way in terms of the most significant price change. Operating on the BNB Chain (BNB), StarShip has experienced a remarkable surge, boasting an impressive increase of 790.67%. This meteoric rise can be largely attributed to the game's successful launch, which caught the attention and interest of investors.

Close on its heels is the well-established Decentral Games, another player in the blockchain gaming space that is super worth learning about.

GameFi Investment and Funding

July has only two funding rounds for game-related projects. This decline in funding rounds has been consistent since April.

Monthly Gaming Fundraising Times

Despite this temporary decline in funding events, the long-term potential of blockchain gaming remains promising.

Xterio, a prominent player in the Web3 gaming arena, successfully secured a $15 million investment from Binance Labs. This infusion of capital will accelerate Xterio's game and technology development, focusing on cutting-edge features such as the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and the launch of its own tokens. Xterio's innovative approach, including a free-to-play gaming platform and GameFi-as-a-Service product, aligns well with the evolving trends of interactive and decentralized gaming experiences.

Meanwhile, Delabs Games, a blockchain game developer, has raised $4.7 million in a seed investment round. Specializing in games built on the Ethereum scaling network Polygon, Delabs Games will use the funds raised to enhance the development of its games and strengthen marketing and community engagement.

This piece is contributed by the Footprint Analytics community.

The Footprint Community is a place where data and crypto enthusiasts worldwide help each other understand and gain insights about Web3, the metaverse, DeFi, GameFi, or any other area of the fledgling world of blockchain. Here you'll find active, diverse voices supporting each other and driving the community forward.