NFT Steez and Cryptoys CEO discuss the future of toys and entertainment in Web3
This week, NFT Steez met with Cryptoys founder Will Weinraub to discuss the current role of play and games in relation to their integration with non-fungible tokens and the Web3 as a whole.
Weinraub believes that play is “not limited to children”, and that as adults we still yearn for the element of play throughout our lives. According to him, “the game has evolved” through the development of technology. NFTs, especially in games, have highlighted this layer of ownership through play.
Weinraub and Cryptoys theorize that “adults are just looking for ways to feel like kids again.” Keeping the question of “how play evolves” at the fore, Weinraub said this is at the heart of his experience with the evolution of play.
Weinraub emphasized how profoundly the Internet has catalyzed an evolution in play and games, from action figures to watching his kids build virtual worlds in Roblox. Players are no longer limited within the confines of their neighborhoods or geographic locations, according to him.
Weinraub emphasized that the content of games is “very, very, different” and leans more towards “social play”, regardless of geographical barriers, compared to games of previous decades.
When asked about concerns about children and young adults’ comfort level with their digital interactions as opposed to their real-world social interactions, Weinraub acknowledged that the situation exists. However, he said that while it may “affect some people, it may amplify some of that as well.”
The evolution of gaming seems to be turning toward more “social play,” and in many ways it can be designed to “enhance communication skills,” Weinraub said.
The future of gaming and cryptocurrency
When asked about the in-game role cryptocurrencies and tokenomics play in blockchain games, Weinraub said he is convinced they are an “important foundation for blockchain games.”
A level of “exuberance” was displayed when play-to-earn models were first created and tested, and Weinraub praised the pioneers who initially navigated these uncharted waters. The sector is likely to develop “very fertile ground in the next year or so,” and Weinraub believes that ultimately there will be a “relaunch of token-based economies and games in a much healthier, sustainable way.”
Related: Crypto Unicorns Founder Says P2E Gaming Is In A Long “Maturing Phase”
When discussing in-game tokens and their current use, Weinraub pointed out how the current state of the “Web3 economy is based on tokenization.” As for the next generation adopting and interacting with tokenization and ownership, Weinraub described how it’s “incredibly important and rightly so.”
To hear more from the conversation, tune in and listen to the full episode of NFT Steez on Cointelegraph’s new podcast site or on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or TuneIn.
