Opinion: The emergence of autonomous worlds is molding the narrative of the new web3

Disclaimer: The author’s views and opinions expressed in this article are their own and do not reflect the views and opinions of crypto.news’ editorial team.

In the ever-changing world of web3, one constant remains true—narratives are important. Narratives have been the driving force behind the success of various projects. From the defi boom in 2020 to the NFT frenzy in 2021 and the emergence of liquid staking in 2022, leading projects in these narratives have experienced accelerated growth simply by being a part of the narrative.

Now, it’s time for the “autonomous worlds” narrative to take center stage. In this article, we explore the concept of autonomous worlds, the limitations of traditional gaming technologies, and how this new narrative is poised to revolutionize the gaming and virtual worlds.

What exactly are “autonomous worlds”?

Autonomous worlds are virtual environments built on blockchain networks, utilizing the decentralized nature of the blockchain. These worlds can take the form of fully-on-chain games (FOCG) or environments where players can use avatars to shape the world according to their desires. The goal of autonomous worlds is to break free from the constraints of traditional gaming platforms and provide a dynamic and sustainable ecosystem where users have unprecedented control and freedom.

Why are current gaming technologies inadequate?

Gaming and virtual worlds suffer from inherent flaws that restrict their true potential. First and foremost, their limited lifespan is a significant issue. The fate of a game is solely determined by the game developers, leaving the passionate player community on the sidelines. This lack of player agency creates an ecosystem where games can thrive or wither based on the decisions made by a select few, rather than being shaped by the collective experiences and desires of the gaming community. Games that don’t generate sufficient profits are often abandoned by profit-focused corporations.

Furthermore, the slow pace of development in the traditional game development process hinders the industry’s progress. The years-long process of building a complete game, coupled with uncertainties regarding its success upon release, impedes the gaming industry’s ability to respond quickly to rapidly changing trends. Many games are either never released or launched with numerous bugs. This sluggish development pace stifles innovation and limits the industry’s capacity to adapt promptly to evolving player preferences.

Lastly, the confinement of users to a single environment restricts the potential for interaction and immersion. In traditional gaming, users can only experience their favorite avatars or characters within the boundaries of a specific game, limiting the possibilities for creativity and interconnectedness that could be achieved in a more open and decentralized virtual environment like autonomous worlds. For instance, you cannot play your favorite Pokemon character in other games like The Legend of Zelda. Gamers often enjoy multiple games, and the current environment restricts the creative possibilities of these games.

A warm welcome to the autonomous worlds

In the rapidly evolving landscape of web3, autonomous worlds emerge as the new narrative that redefines virtual worlds and gaming through the power of blockchain technology. Firstly, autonomous worlds have the potential to create infinite realms where games and virtual environments, once fully integrated into the blockchain, can exist indefinitely.

The decentralized nature of the blockchain, with validators ensuring network security, contributes to the longevity and sustainability of these autonomous realms. As long as the validators continue to operate, the game or world will persist. Additionally, no single entity has the power to change or take down a game once it has been built on-chain. This resistance to censorship ensures the long lifespan of the game.

Secondly, open-source development within autonomous worlds is facilitated by the transparency of smart contracts, fostering an environment where applications can be openly developed. This transparent and collaborative approach leads to a compounding effect.

Developers can build upon each other’s code, speeding up the development process and enabling quick game launches and immediate feedback for developers. This shorter feedback cycle incentivizes more game developers to create games, increasing the chances of successful game releases.

Lastly, the composable nature of autonomous worlds allows for the seamless transfer of characters, NFTs, and tokens across different worlds, creating a vast and open ecosystem. This composable nature enhances the user experience, surpassing the limitations of traditional gaming environments and paving the way for a new era of interconnected and immersive virtual experiences.

Imagine using one game avatar across multiple games, opening up endless possibilities. For example, different games can collaborate by rewarding players who complete quests in other games. Players are not restricted to receiving rewards solely from the game they are playing. Instead, their performance in one game can lead to rewards in another game if the two games decide to collaborate.

Sooner rather than later

The realization of autonomous worlds is imminent, driven by several key factors that are actively shaping the landscape. Firstly, the explosive growth of Layer-2 solutions is expanding network capacity at an unprecedented rate. This scalability surge lays the foundation for more sophisticated and expansive autonomous worlds, ensuring a seamless and efficient user experience. The combination of Ethereum’s security with the low costs and scalability of Layer-2 solutions provides a user-friendly experience.

Additionally, the maturation of critical infrastructure features such as Oracles and account abstraction further strengthens the technical backbone of these virtual realms. On-chain transactions can be automated based on off-chain activities, with accurate data feeds. Account abstraction eliminates the need for players unfamiliar with web3 tools to create a wallet, lowering the entry barrier. As these elements continue to mature, the ecosystem supporting autonomous worlds becomes more robust, bringing us closer to their realization.

Furthermore, the play-to-earn model during the previous bull market offered a glimpse into the future of these virtual realms. It warmed up players to the experience of autonomous worlds. In autonomous worlds, players can use tokens to purchase in-game items and be rewarded with tokens for their outstanding performance. By integrating economic incentives, users actively contribute to the ecosystem, setting the stage for collaborative development and accelerating the arrival of autonomous worlds.

Building autonomous worlds: the importance of integrating randomness

In the ambitious endeavor of constructing autonomous worlds, the integration of an on-chain random number generator (RNG) is crucial. Fully on-chain games within this expansive ecosystem rely on providing users with dynamic and unpredictable experiences.

Randomness is the lifeblood of such games, injecting excitement, challenge, and fairness into the virtual realms. For developers creating web3 games, choosing a reliable RNG is essential for building user trust and community engagement.

Enabling seamless integration into various dapps through a smart contract SDK is a crucial functionality required for applications that need random number generation for diverse activities like rolling dice, shuffling arrays, generating in-game item attributes, creating random in-game maps or dungeons, and determining lottery outcomes.

Read more:
Centralization will hinder web3’s full potential | Opinion

Felix Xu

Felix Xu is a crypto enthusiast, early adopter, and NFT collector. He graduated from NYU Stern School of Business and founded two crypto projects, ARPA and Bella Protocol, both of which are ranked among the top 500 globally by market cap. Felix has previously worked at Fosun Investment, Sackler Family Office, and Vertical Research in New York and Beijing. In his free time, Felix enjoys sailing, kitesurfing, and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times for his NFT collection.

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