Our GAM3 Awards, a major event in the web3 gaming space, returns this December 2023. The judging panel blends familiar faces from 2022 with new voices across web3 gaming's many corners. This year's roster includes venture capital experts, blockchain developers, ecosystem partners, content creators, and veterans from traditional gaming and tech companies like Amazon and Google.
Meet Kate Irwin, one of our jurors and Lead Gaming Reporter and Producer at Decrypt. Kate runs Decrypt's video game coverage and has previously written for Inverse (formerly Input) along with other gaming publications. She holds a BA from UC Berkeley and an MFA from Columbia University.
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1. What is the most enjoyable part of your role?
"My favorite part about my current role at Decrypt is being able to playtest new amazing games and speak with developers directly. It's so fun to be able to pull back the curtain on game development and share it with our readers at GG"
2. How do you see the progress made in web3 gaming since last year?
"Many mediocre to bad Web3 games have been released in the past year and have little to no concurrent players. But compared to a year ago, there are so many more AAA-level Web3 games in development right now. Good games are finally coming...but it's going to take another 1-5 years to really see those releases. There's also huge interest in blockchain gaming in Asia on the mobile development side. Most gamers in the US still don't care about and don't like NFTs, though, so that will continue to be the US market's biggest hurdle. Some games are actually pausing or stopping development due to the ongoing bear market, so it's looking like only the most well-funded and talented game devs will succeed."
3. What is the most valuable addition web3 brings into gaming, from your perspective, if any?
"I hope that Web3 gaming inspires a broader ethos shift for the gaming industry to give gamers more control, ownership, and tradability of their in-game assets. Games don't need crypto or blockchain, but gamers could greatly benefit from having more tradability of individual assets in their game accounts. Blockchain is just one way to do that."
4. What is your outlook on 2024 and beyond for web3 gaming?
"I think blockchain games will pop in Asia and many will do modestly to extremely well. In the West, only the most well-funded blockchain games will succeed and have a substantial playerbase for six months plus after release. Some blockchain-optional games will do well and make tons of money, but I predict that most players of those titles won't opt-in to the crypto elements and will effectively play them as Web2 games."
The GAM3 Awards return in 2023 to spotlight growth and innovation across web3 gaming. With jurors like Kate Irwin evaluating the field, the event will recognize standout work in this evolving space.
