Alexis Ohanian, currently the founder and general partner of Seven Seven Six, a Web3-focused venture capital firm, stated in a recent Twitter thread that play-to-earn will become a standard feature in video games.

“Within the next five years, the majority of gamers won’t play games unless they are being properly valued for that time.”

Ohanian remains confident in the potential of P2E games despite setbacks encountered by games such as Axie Infinity, viewing the decline as a temporary obstacle. He argues that play-to-earn games will become the obvious option as crypto and NFT trading technologies continue to develop and increase.

First – quick definition.

The “play-to-earn” model in gaming lets players earn rewards that have real-world value just for playing.

These rewards generally come in the form of in-game digital assets that players can buy, trade, and sell outside of the game for real cash 💰

— Alexis Ohanian 🇦🇲 (@alexisohanian) May 31, 2023

Ohanian’s belief is supported by transactions such as the sale of a virtual nightclub (Club Neverdie) in the game Entropia Universe in the early 2000s and recent six-figure sales of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO) costumes.

Despite the challenges, he anticipates that play-to-earn gaming will acquire widespread acceptance as the general public becomes more familiar with crypto and NFT trading. Ohanian’s role as an investor in gaming companies, including Sky Mavis, the developer of Axie Infinity, demonstrates his unwavering support for crypto-centric video games.

Earlier this year, Ohanian expressed confidence in the long-term viability of cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin, despite adverse industry developments such as the demise of FTX. He drew a parallel between the introduction of blockchain and the invention of paper, predicting that the value and utility of this technology will continue to rise over time.

Other Crypto Veterans Dispute the Sustainability of P2E

Contrary to Ohanian’s optimistic outlook for the future of play-to-earn (P2E) gaming, numerous other cryptocurrency industry leaders and game developers argue that this model lacks sustainability.

According to a recent report, Mark Otero, the founder and CEO of Azra Games, has expressed skepticism about the play-to-earn model’s long-term viability. Instead of relying solely on the allure of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) or in-game tokens, Otero argues that Web3 games should focus on delivering exceptional gameplay that attracts users based on its merits.

He suggests that the Web3 elements of a game should be progressively revealed to players after they have developed a strong affinity for it, thereby enhancing the overall user experience and adding to the game’s value.