Axie Infinity Is A Classic Example Of What’s To Come For NFT Games

thegamer.com:

Proponents of NFT and blockchain games like Axie Infinity tend to push a specific narrative: you can earn money from activities that you would usually do in your spare time for free. In this universe, every single activity is ripe for monetisation, and quivering with profit-making opportunities. At the heart of Axie Infinity, in particular, is a supposedly inviting proposition: instead of collecting Pokemon—a pastime that Nintendo wouldn’t ever pay you money to do—why not collect these snoot-faced cretins called Axies?

That said, it’s difficult to understate just how popular and widespread Axie Infinity is. It was said to be the game that would propel blockchain games to the mainstream, and had even been a means for Filipino players to make a living in the midst of the pandemic. The game, too, has even become a form of wage labour, with many players unable to afford the exorbitant starting price—or investment—of a trio of Axies, which is now said to set players back at least $1,065 at one time. To help introduce more players into the Axie Infinity system, the game has set up a scholarship of sorts, allowing wealthier players to loan their Axies to others in exchange for a cut of their profits. So far, so Ponzi scheme.

Related: Axie Infinity, NFT Games, and the Dismal Future of Play

But the thing about Axie Infinity is that for the bulk of its players, it isn’t really a game; it’s actually a job, and the Axie economy hasn’t always been thriving. For this scheme to work—and for the long-term sustainability of the game—there must always be an influx of new players and constant activity online. The value of new Axies and the game’s economy is contingent on having a constant stream of fresh money being pumped into it.

Then