Blockchain game builders are increasingly prioritizing fundamentals and infrastructure over token-driven growth cycles, with stablecoin adoption emerging as one of the top three drivers for the first time, according to a new report from the Blockchain Gaming Alliance (BGA).
On Wednesday, BGA released its 2025 State of the Industry Report, charting the changes in what builders believe will drive the success of blockchain games.
According to the report, the top three growth drivers were the release of high-quality games (29.5%), revenue-driven business models (27.5%), and the adoption of stablecoins in payments (27.3%).
The findings suggest that the industry is retreating from the speculation cycle and reliance on big Web2 brands, and instead favoring commercially viable games built on Web3-native transaction rails.
“What we’re seeing in the data is that the industry is becoming more global, more disciplined, and more focused on building great games for real players,” said Sebastien Borget, co-chairman of BGA and co-founder of The Sandbox.
How blockchain game drivers have evolved over the past five years
This report reflects a remarkable five-year evolution of what blockchain game developers believe will drive the field forward.
From 2021 to 2023, survey participants were highly supportive of external catalysts, including Play-to-Earn (P2E) promotion, and hoped that the involvement of large Web2 publishers would validate the sector.
After friction and repetitive game loops stalled adoption of Web3 games, by 2024 sentiment shifted to improving user experience, accessibility, and onboarding.
This year’s survey suggests further maturation. Developers are increasingly tying success to infrastructure that supports sophisticated gameplay, sustainable monetization, and spending.
The report says that while stablecoins have long been a core element of decentralized finance, they are now being seen as useful for gaming economies.
It also suggests that a smooth payment experience similar to fiat currencies could contribute to the success of Web3 games.
Related: Animoca, Solv help Japanese Bitcoin companies generate revenue
Web2 Dependence on gaming giants will fade
The survey also shows that reliance on traditional gaming giants is rapidly declining. Only about 17.2% of respondents currently believe traditional publishers are the primary growth catalyst, down from 35.8% in 2024.
Instead, interoperability (26.1%), artificial intelligence integration (25.9%), and player-driven creator economy (25.5%) followed closely behind the top three drivers.
The increased attention from developers to stablecoin rail reflects broader policy momentum.
Regulatory frameworks for stablecoins are rapidly evolving around the world, with the US leading the way with the GENIUS Act and Europe introducing the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) framework.
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