How TON turned the tide for blockchain gaming in 2024
Blockchain gaming gained recognition in 2024 after years of being overshadowed by other Web3 innovations. The play-to-earn (P2E) model emerged from early games like CryptoKitties and Axie Infinity, which established player-owned economies through NFTs and tokens. CryptoKitties launched in 2017, allowing players to buy, breed, and trade virtual cats, achieving significant early success but declining by 2022. Axie Infinity introduced a competitive gaming environment with an in-game economy. The P2E model attracted major game developers but faced backlash for prioritizing profit over enjoyment, leading to a downturn until 2024. The Open Network (TON) revitalized GameFi with Notcoin, a successful tapping game on Telegram, generating over 17 trillion Notcoins. Pocket Rocket, another TON game, combined gameplay with community engagement and rewards. These developments highlight the flexibility and potential of decentralized applications in gaming.
