By Dr. Srinivasan Chari
Web3 Gaming vs Traditional Gaming: What’s Driving Massive User Growth?
What is Web3 Gaming and Traditional Gaming?
The world of gaming finds itself in a period of change, moving away from established systems towards more open structures that aim to change how players interact and the economic forces at play.
Traditional gaming, typically defined by central authority over in-game items and economies, often gives players only a small amount of ownership and limited options to move their investments.
However, Web3 gaming presents a fundamental change, using blockchain tech to give power to users by letting them truly own in-game items and offering them ways to earn money through gameplay with play-to-earn systems.
This shift can be seen in [cited], which compares closed and open in-game economies, showing how Web3 games create a more involving and fair experience for players.
Web3 systems have made players more interested since they provide them more power and the chance to earn real-world value. Some individuals anticipate the firm will develop swiftly and reach $40 billion by 2032, based on what the graph shows.
Not only do these two gaming ideas have very distinct frameworks, but the differences between them also spark an important discourse about what the future could hold for players and those who work in the gaming industry.
Web3 Gaming Market Growth 2025
Image1. Web3 Gaming Market Growth Projection (2021-2032)
Key Difference Between Web3 Gaming and Traditional Gaming
It’s apparent that the gaming industry is evolving from how it used to be to a new Web3 structure.
In old-school gaming, people are stuck in the game’s own little world, and the people who make the game mostly decide how much things are worth.
One might spend real money on stuff in the game, but they don’t really own it, and they can’t do much with it besides play. On the other hand, Web3 games have a more open system that’s all about giving power to the players.
Blockchain tech lets one truly own things in the game, usually as NFTs, and they can trade them on other sites. This different way of handling money really changes how people play, since the chance to “Play to Earn” brings in more and more players.
The visual aid of the different economic models [cited] really shows this well, helping to explain what gets people excited about this new kind of gaming world.
Here’s a more specific tabular explanation: Web3 gaming vs traditional Gaming User Base
Key Differences Between Web3 Gaming and Traditional Gaming
Benefits of Web3 Gaming Over Traditional Gaming
The gaming world is seeing some big changes, mostly towards ways that let players have more say and maybe even make some money. Probably the biggest difference between Web3 games and the usual kind is how the money stuff works – it’s gone from being locked down to being more open.
Do you know? In regular games, one is kind of stuck. Whatever one buys or earns in the game is pretty much controlled by the game company. One can’t really take it anywhere else or truly own it. But Web3 games are different.
They use things like blockchain and NFTs to give players real ownership of their stuff. They can trade it on different markets and, well, actually “own” it. This not only makes players happier, but it also turns gaming into something that can actually pay the bills for some.
The difference between these locked-down and open economies, as shown in the table, really shows how much Web3 games have changed things. And because of all this, Web3 games are getting super popular, pulling in lots of different people who are tired of the old way of doing things.
Web2 vs Web3 Games Pros and Cons:
Benefits of Web3 Gaming Over Traditional Gaming
Factors Driving User Growth in Web3 Gaming
The gaming world keeps changing, and one thing that’s really taken off is Web3 gaming. It’s gotten even the old-school game makers thinking about how they do things. Why are so many people getting on the Web3 bandwagon?
Why Web3 Games are Gaining Popularity?
That’s because these games feature decentralised economies, which means that players may make money by utilising in-game products and cryptocurrencies. Web3 opens everything up instead of the closed-off economy you find in most games.
Players can easily trade and own digital assets, which makes the whole experience way more engaging. Research has shown that adding real-world value to Web3 games with NFTs and digital assets is what’s making these games so popular.
Plus, with Play-to-Earn (P2E) models, you can actually get paid to play, which makes it even more appealing. An example of these dynamics is illustrated in the image, which contrasts the in-game economies of traditional and Web3 games, further elucidating the factors driving user growth in this burgeoning landscape.
Image2. Comparison of Closed and Open In-Game Economies in Video Games
Factors Driving User Growth in Web3 Gaming
Conclusion
Web3 gaming’s rise marks more than just a tech upgrade; it’s reshaping how users engage and the economics at play. The expected market growth from 2021 to 2032 shows a solid 18% compound annual growth rate, suggesting more gamers are joining in, drawn to Web3’s perks like truly owning in-game stuff and making money while gaming.
Unlike traditional games where players mostly watch, Web3 brings open economies where players trade directly, boosting what they can do. This change isn’t just because gamers weren’t happy with old models; it’s also a smart move to meet their desire for deeper involvement and a piece of the economic action. Because of this the growth of Web3 gaming suggests it is a driver for getting more users into gaming.
References:
· Donncha Kavanagh. ‘Defining Web3.’ A Guide to the New Cultural Economy, Quinn DuPont, Emerald Group Publishing, 7/1/2024
· Esma Birişçi. ‘An Introduction to the Metaverse.’ Applications with Python, Necmi Gürsakal, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 12/21/2024
Image References:
· Image: Web3 Gaming Market Growth Projection (2021-2032), Accessed: 2025. https://fungies.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Web3-Gaming-market-size-1-1024×643.png
· Image: Comparison of Closed and Open In-Game Economies in Video Games, Accessed: 2025. https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/coinloan-blog-assets/2023/03/07d7c924-6d7f-49c2-a44c-cdd18324146e-1.png
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