The YGG Play Summit 2025 came back to Manila with creators at the center of its web3 gaming conversation. More than 5,600 people showed up to Bonifacio Global City for the event, which racked up 490 million impressions online and pulled in over half a million livestream viewers across YouTube, Facebook, and X.
The timing lines up with what's happening in the broader creator economy. Creator-driven advertising hit $37 billion in 2025, outpacing traditional media growth by a significant margin. Most consumers now use social platforms to track entertainment and cultural shifts, and the Summit positioned creators as the people who can actually move web3 games from niche experiments to mainstream releases.
Creators talk careers, not just hype
A live LOL Lounge recording kicked things off with a panel on what it takes to build a sustainable career in web3 content. YGG co-founder Gabby Dizon sat down with GamingGrid's YellowPanther and Gaming Daily's Iceyyy to discuss authentic content, reliable partnerships, and why consistency matters more than viral moments. Both creators stressed that in-person events still matter, even when most of your work happens online.
The episode became one of the most-watched segments on X, alongside the $100,000 YGG Parallel Showdown and the Aurory Amiko Legends gameplay demo. WolvesDAO's Sam Steffanina hosted a Gamified IRL episode that questioned the value of celebrity creator partnerships. The takeaway: big names can spike visibility, but they don't guarantee retention. Long-term player engagement needs community-focused strategies, not just influencer drops.
WolvesDAO and Beam ran a creator workshop through YGG's Metaversity, covering content strategy and audience growth. WolvesDAO co-founder Payton Kaleiwahea introduced Kizuna, an AI tool that analyzes engagement data and helps creators reward their most active followers. Other creators at the Summit included Jared Dillinger of Agent Daredevil and Pukerainbow of Pukecast.
GAM3 Awards highlight the games and devs pushing web3 forward
Our GAM3 Awards held its second in-person ceremony in Manila, recognizing standout work in web3 game development. Cagyjan, co-founder of the Silly Kitties IP and an early Axie Infinity creator, won Creator of the Year. He's been a fixture in the regional scene since the Axie boom and continues to shape how creators approach web3 games.
Gunzilla Games' Off The Grid swept the awards again, winning five categories including Game of the Year. Gunzilla's Director of Web3, Theodore Agranat, explained during a Summit talk how the studio worked with Ninja, Shroud, and TimTheTatman to onboard traditional gamers. These creators helped explain the game's blockchain systems and made web3 features less intimidating for players coming from mainstream titles.
Parallel won Best Strategy Game, CCP Games' EVE Frontier took Best Adventure Game, and Pixels won Best Browser Game. Pudgy Party grabbed both Best Mobile and Best Casual Game, while Gigaverse earned the Games' Choice award through voting by fellow nominees.
Skills training gets serious attention
Education took up a lot of space at the Summit, reflecting the need for creators, students, and builders to keep up with rapid changes in web3 and AI. Metaversity Interactive brought together studio leaders, government reps, and academics to talk about the skills people actually need right now. YGG, Mysten Labs, Coins.ph, CCP Games, OP Games, the DICT, and Sui Builder Program graduates all participated.
The Base-sponsored Prompt to Prototype workshop introduced no-code tools for building game prototypes. HOWS Asia's Kat Gonzalez and YGG Pilipinas' Phee Tejada launched Creators of Play, a program connecting web2 and web3 creator communities. Over 100 emerging creators have signed up, with training set to run through Metaversity.
On-the-ground activities bring people together
The Summit included several interactive experiences designed to connect creators with the local community. A Creator Photo Crawl around BGC, Early Risers sports matches, and a Poblacion gathering gave attendees ways to meet outside the main event halls. The Creator Lounge offered a studio-style space for content production.
The Cosplay Showdown featured 16 participants, with Ken Cangas winning for his Sun Wukong portrayal. Coins.ph hosted a "Love in the Metaverse" dating activity led by Amira Alawi and Kookoo Crypto TV, mixing entertainment with web3-themed community engagement.
The Summit drew support from gaming, blockchain, and media partners, including tournament partners Might & Magic: Fates, Parallel, and Vibes, plus major sponsors like Aurory, Coins.ph, Sky Mavis, Ubisoft, Earnscape, and Pixels.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the YGG Play Summit?
The YGG Play Summit is a global player-focused event centered on web3 gaming, creator development, and community engagement. It hosts panels, tournaments, workshops, and industry discussions.
Who attends the YGG Play Summit?
The Summit attracts creators, gamers, developers, investors, and industry professionals from around the world, along with members of the YGG community.
Why are creators important to web3 gaming?
Creators help introduce new users to web3 games, build communities, share game updates, and provide educational content that supports long-term adoption.
What are the GAM3 Awards?
Our GAM3 Awards recognize excellence in web3 gaming across multiple categories, including Game of the Year, Best Strategy, Best Mobile, and Creator of the Year.
How does Metaversity support creators and builders?
Metaversity provides workshops, courses, and community programs focused on web3 and AI skills development, helping participants prepare for careers in emerging digital industries.
When will the next YGG Play Summit take place?
The event is scheduled to return to Manila on November 19–22, 2026, featuring new attractions and expanded creator-focused programming.
