Ethereum is the most popular blockchain used by developers creating decentralized apps (dApps). According to DappRadar, there are nearly 700 different games currently running on Ethereum, suggesting that creators prefer the Ethereum blockchain to other options.
CryptoKitties, Axie Infinity, Decentraland, and The Sandbox are some of the world’s most popular blockchain games running on the Ethereum network. These games achieved impressive figures at their respective peaks, becoming so popular that they congested the Ethereum network. For instance, the most expensive CryptoKitty, Dragon, sold for 600 ETH, about $170,000 at the time. CryptoKitties also accounted for over 12% of all Ethereum transactions in December 2017. For Axie Infinity, the game’s publisher had to increase the transaction fee to 5.25% from 4.25%, in response to heavy demand from players.
Even though there are hundreds of games on the Ethereum blockchain, many more developers are still deploying projects on the blockchain. The following are the most common reasons developers prefer Ethereum:
Smart Contracts
The Ethereum network supports smart contracts, which are essential tools for blockchain games. These contracts self-execute depending on specific conditions and according to predetermined rules. The self-execution takes a lot of worry off developers, allowing them to design complex games and run them smoothly for their audiences. For instance, developers can use smart contracts to ensure that a game’s reward system incentivizes players as soon as they qualify. Using smart contracts also helps to verify ownership of in-game assets for easy acquisition or exchange.
Flexibility
Ethereum’s flexibility enables developers to create games tailored to specific audiences. It also allows game companies to add exciting features to their titles and update them for better gameplay, or to address feedback from the gaming community.
Furthermore, flexibility helps developers modify their games to support Ether tokens, as well as any other assets compatible with Ethereum. In addition to blockchain games, online casinos enjoy this flexibility as they allow their customers to make gambling deposits using Ether tokens. Ethereum casinos are user-friendly, offer attractive bonuses, and ensure anonymity on public platforms.
Users often only need an email address to open an account. Players can create accounts and immediately begin making deposits and withdrawals, skipping most of the cumbersome steps typically required by other platforms (source: https://cryptonews.com/news/best-ethereum-casinos.htm).
Community Support
Developers creating titles on the Ethereum blockchain have access to an active community of creators from regions all over the world. This community helps new developers to easily connect with others and find solutions to major problems. The support also creates an opportunity for experienced developers to bounce ideas off each other or mentor newbies. Through community support, developers can get all the coding and testing assistance needed to develop the most engaging and profitable titles.
Scalability
Many blockchain platforms have scalability issues that make it challenging to handle many gamers running simultaneous transactions. This can be detrimental for games that achieve global success and attract many players. Fortunately, Ethereum can handle thousands of transactions through several solutions on the network, including sharding. This solution basically splits the network into smaller parts for easy management and transaction processing. In addition to sharding, there are several layer-2 networks and sidechains that solve Ethereum’s scalability problems, making the blockchain one of the most suitable networks for gaming.
Low Transaction Fees
Many Ethereum games are affordable because of the network’s low transaction fees. Players who want to enjoy their favorite titles can buy in-game assets or trade NFTs without worrying about losing money on transactions. This is an advantage directly tied to scalability because solutions that allow the network to quickly handle a large number of transactions also keep fees low since transaction processing is easier. Another advantage of low transaction fees is the cost-effectiveness for new developers who may not have the resources to invest heavily in their projects.
Interoperability
Ethereum’s interoperability allows several blockchains to communicate easily. Interoperability enables different games to combine resources across chains so players can enjoy more exciting in-game options. Ethereum interoperability standards, including ERC-20 and ERC-721, help developers define rules for creating and issuing tokens, and promote collaboration between gaming projects. In addition, these standards help compatible wallets connect with multiple games such that a player can integrate any existing wallet and fund gaming accounts to purchase assets or NFTs.
Carolyn Coley is a blockchain reporter. She joined Smartereum after graduating from UC Berkeley in 2018.
