Proof of Play CEO Expects Surge in Dedicated Blockchain Use for Gaming

Proof of Play CEO Amitt Mahajan is anticipating a surge in dedicated blockchain usage for gaming applications.

Mahajan, who previously developed the popular Facebook game Farmville, envisions a future where thousands of individual blockchains support specific applications.

During his time at Zynga, Mahajan had to manage approximately 64 databases to prevent Farmville from crashing due to its massive user base.

He sees blockchain technology as an advanced database and believes that using chains as data stores is essential for scaling applications, he said in a recent interview.

Pirate Nation Launches Dedicated Blockchain

Pirate Nation, a crypto game developed by Proof of Play, initially built on the Ethereum scaling network Polygon but later moved to Arbitrum Nova due to rising gas fees on Polygon.

However, relying on shared networks posed challenges as new projects launching on the same chain could increase gas fees for everyone.

As a solution, Pirate Nation launched its own application-specific chain called Apex, and Mahajan believes this approach is the logical future for other apps as well.

The Proof of Play Apex chain is now live w/ Pirate Nation!

Pirate Nation is now the first fully onchain game deployed to its own Mainnet chain.

This is the start of the Multichain: an infinitely scalable constellation of chains that allows us deliver onchain gaming to millions. pic.twitter.com/tlVFPWlAeS

— Proof of Play (@ProofOfPlay) February 29, 2024

The trend of dedicated blockchains for gaming is not unique to Pirate Nation.

Other games on networks like Avalanche are utilizing their own dedicated subnets, such as Shrapnel and Off the Grid with its GUNZ network.

Treasure is also building its own Arbitrum-based Treasure Chain with dedicated gaming networks called “Infinity Chains.”

Since launching on Apex, Pirate Nation has been filling up the chain with transactions, prompting the team to consider adding additional chains to support scalability.

Mahajan draws a parallel to his experience in Web2 game development, where scalable architecture was necessary to support growing games.

While running multiple chains may seem burdensome, Mahajan sees it as a necessary evolution to ensure sustainable growth.

Pirate Nation’s multichain offering, starting with Apex, aims to enable other game and dapp developers to launch their own networks using Arbitrum Orbit, an Ethereum scaling technology.

Mahajan acknowledges the interest from other developers but intends to address capacity issues before expanding to external projects.

Pirate Nation recently launched its PIRATE token, which saw a significant increase in value following its listing on Coinbase.

Meta Aims to Use Generative AI in Metaverse Gaming

Meta is seeking to revolutionize metaverse gaming by incorporating generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

A recent job listing by Meta reveals the company’s intention to explore and prototype “entirely new types of gameplay” in the metaverse through the integration of generative AI with virtual, augmented, and mixed-reality games.

The company envisions games that are non-deterministic, personalized, and capable of evolving with each playthrough, creating experiences that are currently unimaginable.

Companies like Meta, Microsoft, Tencent, and Nvidia are heavily investing in the metaverse to enhance their platforms and create new user experiences.

For instance, Meta invested $50 million in global research and development for the metaverse, and Epic Games raised $1 billion, including a $200 million investment from Sony.