- Trip Hawkins, founder of Electronic Arts and creator of the best-selling sports video game franchise “FIFA”, has joined Games for a Living (GFAL) as co-founder and strategy chief.
- GFAL is a Web3 startup that publishes titles compatible with blockchain technology across consoles, PCs, and mobiles.
- Hawkins aims to help GFAL with their mass adoption goals and tackle “understanding and adoption of Web3 games overall.”
As the world continues to explore the possibilities of Web3, blockchain gaming is increasingly becoming a focus for developers and investors alike. The recent news of Trip Hawkins, founder of Electronic Arts and the company behind the popular sports game franchise “FIFA,” joining Web3 startup Games for a Living (GFAL) underscores the growing interest in this emerging field.
GFAL is a Barcelona-based gaming company that publishes titles compatible with blockchain technology across consoles, PCs, and mobiles. With Hawkins joining as co-founder and strategy chief, the company aims to take on top blockchain games like Axie Infinity and tackle the understanding and adoption of Web3 games.
Hawkins is a veteran in the gaming industry, and his involvement in developing Web3 games is an exciting development for the future of blockchain gaming. He has previously worked with GFAL CEO Manel Sort at Digital Chocolate. The two share a vision of leveraging new and emerging technologies to enhance performance and create exciting immersive gaming experiences.
The Rise of Web3 Gaming and the Metaverse
In an interview with Reuters, Hawkins stated, “Web3 is the bridge to the metaverse. And if we’re going to make a metaverse, the economy of the metaverse has to be more like the real world.” This sentiment highlights the potential of blockchain gaming to create new and innovative virtual economies that allow players to own, sell, and trade in-game goods, much like in the real world. This has contributed to the rise of interest in Web3 gaming over the past year, as it is touted to attract more cryptocurrency users.
Despite the potential benefits of Web3 gaming, there are concerns around security, as “cyberwallets” are more prone to hacking. However, developers want to diversify their platforms amid stunted growth and high app-store fees. GFAL’s approach to Web3 gaming is focused on enhancing game performance and value for players while keeping things fun. Hawkins expects blockchain to be used more by content creators, and GFAL plans to do this in a way that helps enhance game performance and value for players.
Web3 Gaming Investments Continue
GFAL had a post-money valuation of 13.2 million euros ($13.96 million) after its latest funding round last year, and with Hawkins joining the company, the growth potential is significant. Furthermore, investment in Web3 gaming continues to grow despite the broader crypto market downturn. For example, Pantera recently invested $10 million in Metaverse Game Worldwide Webb, and gaming platform Ajuna raised $5 million in new financing this month. Square Enix, the company behind hits such as Final Fantasy, recently announced a partnership with Polygon to create an NFT art project.
The future of Web3 gaming is exciting, and the involvement of industry veterans like Hawkins is a sign of the potential that blockchain gaming has to offer. The ability to create new and innovative virtual economies that are more like the real world has the potential to transform the gaming industry. As blockchain technology develops, we expect to see even more growth and innovation in Web3 gaming, with GFAL and other companies at the forefront of this emerging field.
