The Gam3 Awards for Web3 video games is returning for a 3rd yr in a row with a prize pool of $5 million.
The awards for the very best blockchain-based video games is now winnowed all the way down to a shortlist. The organizer mentioned the annual web3 gaming celebration major occasion is ready to achieve new heights with extra thrilling recreation developments, extra rewards, new award classes, and for the primary time ever — a bodily ceremony alongside the livestream which had over 50,000 viewers tune in final yr.
Gam3s.gg has partnered with Yield Guild Video games (YGG), one of many world’s largest networks of Web3 players, to carry the Gam3 awards ceremony bodily for the primary time. I served as a decide within the first spherical of voting for the Gam3 Awards this yr and did so final yr as nicely.
The occasion can be held and live-streamed straight from the Philippines, because the grand finale for the YGG Play Summit. The Philippines, the place Axie Infinity took off in 2021, has develop into a giant participant within the Web3 gaming panorama. Most of the business’s earliest adopters and most passionate communities are based mostly within the nation.
YGG cofounder Gabby Dizon, mentioned in an announcement, “The YGG Play Summit is about the gamers, first and foremost. It’s the biggest Web3 gaming consumer event of the year. This is why we’re so excited to host the 2024 Gam3 Awards here in Manila. The real players of all the hottest web3 games will be there to vote and cheer for their favorite titles.”
Gam3s.gg has additionally partnered with Arbitrum, Magic Eden, Immutable, Avalanche, and Skale to make this yr’s occasion even larger and higher than earlier years.
Initially launched in 2022, the Gam3 Awards launched within the midst of the pandemic and a time of huge hype round blockchain video games. Now among the video games that acquired funding throughout the go-go years are taking form and nearing launch. A few of the titles are discovering audiences, like NFL Rivals on the app shops, within the low tens of millions. Whereas Telegram video games — albeit very simple clicker blockchain video games ones — are going viral within the tons of of tens of millions.
All of that is encouraging to the blockchain recreation business, contemplating it has taken longer to get the worldwide market to take off, in no small half attributable to crypto scams and resistance from Western hardcore players.
Gam3’s goal is to struggle off the critics and create a landmark occasion throughout the blockchain gaming business highlighting the highest video games and creators over the previous two years. By recognizing and celebrating excellent titles and creators, the awards spotlight innovation and excellence throughout numerous genres and standards, corresponding to artwork route and probably the most anticipated video games. In 2023, the occasion noticed over 450,000 votes forged from 50,000 distinctive voters, additional showcasing the group’s function throughout the choice course of.
The annual occasion was streamed on-line and achieved additional widespread success in 2023, with over 50,000 stay viewers, peaking at 36,000-plus concurrent viewers on Twitch alone, and over 250,000 views within the first 24 hours post-broadcast. The occasion’s winners shared a prize pool of $2 million, with the Web3 buying and selling card recreation Parallel taking dwelling probably the most wins, together with “Game of the Year.”
Gam3s.gg CEO Omar Ghanem mentioned in an announcement, “This is the third year we (have) run these awards, and we really wanted to do something special this time. The Philippines has long been one of the main hubs for Web3 gaming, and some of the earliest adopters and most passionate community members are based right here. That’s why it only feels right that our first ever physical version of the Gam3 Awards takes place at the heart of Manila — the heart of Web3 gaming.”
This yr’s awards see the return of all classes from the earlier set up and the addition of two new ones: Finest Ecosystem and Finest Browser Recreation – to make it 21 classes in complete.
As well as, final yr’s “Best Graphics” award returns underneath a extra becoming title: “Best Art Direction” to have a good time the creativity and distinctive artwork type of recreation titles with out excessively emphasizing high-fidelity graphics.
The Gam3 Awards will characteristic unique trailers and bulletins from main studios, providing attendees a sneak peek at among the most anticipated Web3 video games in improvement. These premieres have develop into fan favorites, with titles corresponding to Riftstorm making their debut look in earlier editions.
This yr’s occasion options over 70 outstanding conventional and blockchain gaming figures, with many returning jurors from earlier ceremonies. The various panel consists of representatives from Amazon, Google, Samsung, Ubisoft, Animoca Manufacturers, Immutable, Arbitrum, Blockchain Recreation Alliance, Base, Ronin, and Avalanche, in addition to content material creators and main media retailers corresponding to VentureBeat (yup) and Decrypt.
Very like earlier years, the voting course of will see the jury’s votes characterize 90% of the ultimate determination, with the group making up the remaining 10% for many classes besides Folks’s Selection and Finest Content material Creator, that are each 100% group voting-based, and Video games’ Selection, which relies on shortlisted recreation studios voting for his or her favourite title recreation.
With 17 blockchain networks represented, the range and innovation showcased by the nominees spotlight the dynamic evolution of the gaming panorama. The highest 5 networks represented within the closing shortlists are Immutable, Polygon, Avalanche, Arbitrum, and Solana.
The Recreation of the Yr finalist nominees are Off The Grid, Pirate Nation, Parallel, Nyan Heroes, and Pixels. For the total listing of nominees, go to gam3awards.com. Last voting begins October 15 and runs till November 15, straight on GAM3S.GG’s platform on the GAM3 Awards web page.
As well as, among the many thrilling updates for the 2024 Gam3 Awards is the elevated $5 million prize pool, which consists of grants, merchandise, providers, advertising, and blockchain assist from companions corresponding to AWS, XAI, Thirdweb, Aethir, and Neighborhood Gaming amongst others to assist finalists and winners develop even additional. This represents a considerable improve from earlier years and underscores the occasion’s dedication to supporting and fostering the following technology of Web3 video games.
