The rise of the internet has made it easier for the gaming industry to innovate faster. Today, we’re also seeing how gaming NFTs are becoming a bigger part of gaming, thanks to the growth of blockchain technology. According to a research on the evolution of gaming, we’re now in the eighth generation of gaming. While there’s a lot to cover in the past, we’ll focus on gaming NFTs and the history of online gaming for this article.
What are Gaming NFTs?
Gaming NFTs in Play-to-Earn (P2E) games allow players to own and control in-game items. These items, like characters or weapons, are digital collectibles called NFTs. Players can buy, sell, or trade these items with others. For example, if you earn a rare sword in a game, because it’s an NFT, you can sell it to other players or keep it as your own collectible.
PC Games and Their Evolution
In the 2000s, PC gaming was booming, and mods (player-created game modifications) were becoming popular. Games like Counter-Strike (2000), Grand Theft Auto III (2001), and Prince of Persia: Sands of Time (2003) captured the attention of an entire generation—and yes, many were addicted!
Later on, MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing Games) like World of Warcraft became the next big thing. Around the same time, Halo 2 on Xbox and mobile games like Angry Birds also took off. Motion controls arrived soon after, with the PS3, Nintendo Wii, and Xbox 360 bringing new ways to play. The eighth generation (2012-present) saw consoles like the PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch becoming dominant, thanks to their exclusive games.
Today’s consoles, like the PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S, have introduced cloud gaming services such as Google Stadia and Amazon Luna. With better graphics and more advanced gaming monitors, the experience of gaming has become even more immersive.
Online Games
Both online multiplayer games like Fortnite and League of Legends, and first-person shooter games like Call of Duty and Overwatch 2, have helped create huge gaming communities. These communities often gather on platforms to organize activities like competitive rankings and clan battles.
This global rise in multiplayer games was made possible by the introduction of LAN networks, allowing players to connect with others around the world.
Web3 Gaming
We’re now entering the era of Web3 gaming, although it’s still in development and not fully defined yet. Web3 is the next phase of the internet, giving users more control by using blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and decentralization. Unlike the current Web2, where large companies control most of the data, Web3 allows users to manage their own digital assets and data.
The Beginning of Gaming NFTs: Etheria and CryptoKitties
Etheria is recognized as the first NFT game, launched in 2015. It was a real-estate-style game where players could trade digital land as NFTs. In 2017, CryptoKitties followed, allowing players to collect, breed, and take care of digital cats. Players could also buy and sell their cats while solving puzzles and playing games.
The Future of Gaming
Web3 and gaming NFTs are expected to bring even more innovation to the gaming world. They may change how the gaming economy works, giving players full ownership of in-game assets that they can trade freely. This shift could lead players to adopt a more investment-focused mindset, carefully curating their NFT collections and hunting for rare, valuable items.
Conclusion
Gaming NFTs are still in their early days, much like digital collectible art. However, they have a lot of potential, as long as the challenges—such as regulation and ethical concerns—are handled properly.
