Corey Wilton is the CEO of Mirai Labs, the developer of Pegaxy, MergePals, and Pocket Waifu.
For years, hypercasual games have dominated mobile gaming, delivering easy, addictive play to nearly everyone with a smartphone. They’re the fast food of gaming – quick, entertaining, and often a bit repetitive. But despite their popularity, these games have hit a plateau, with players increasingly looking for deeper, more meaningful interactions. Traditionally, hypercasual games rely on surface-level engagement and one-sided revenue models, but the genre is primed for change.
Now, the fusion of AI and web3 technology is driving a new era, particularly within the TON ecosystem, which has seen a surge in hypercasual game titles in 2024. Imagine autonomous AI characters that don’t just interact with players but actively participate in – and even drive – the game’s economy. These characters are no longer just NPCs; they’re dynamic, income-generating agents, setting the stage for a player-driven, economically sustainable game ecosystem that creates real value for users.
Autonomous AI characters: a new frontier in gaming
In this new model within the TON ecosystem, AI companions can function as economic agents, making autonomous decisions that influence the game world. They’re designed to create and spend in-game assets based on interactions with players, fueling a unique economic loop. Imagine a virtual companion who not only engages players with quests or tasks but uses her earnings to impact the game environment, unlock new experiences, or even collaborate with other AI characters.
This two-way economic flow transforms AI characters into active participants, making gameplay richer and more dynamic. Instead of the static NPCs found in traditional games, these AI characters add complexity and personalization, creating a virtual world within TON where interactions evolve based on economic relationships and shared goals.
Web3 integration on TON: building sustainable, player-driven economies
Web3 technology empowers these autonomous AI characters to operate within tokenized ecosystems, linking their income and spending to decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols. This shift gives in-game assets real-world value, allowing players to benefit directly from the game’s economy. For example, a player might complete a quest alongside their AI companion and receive a token reward, which can then be staked, traded, or reinvested in the game.
The “funnel” looks like this: At the top, players are drawn to these unique AI companions who actively earn and interact, adding continuous value. Then, in the middle of the funnel, AI characters can mint or exchange tokens, participate in transactions, and deepen the in-game economy within TON’s ecosystem. Players engage with these economic activities, earning, swapping, and benefiting from token appreciation.
Finally, at the bottom of the funnel, players integrate with the broader DeFi ecosystem: players can take their in-game rewards to yield-generating platforms or decentralized exchanges (DEXs) on TON, transforming gaming assets into financial opportunities beyond the game.
A new era of accessible, value-driven gaming
The combination of AI companions and web3 in hypercasual games is especially potent in regions where mid-range mobile devices are the norm. By keeping gameplay simple and mobile-friendly, these games remain accessible to players worldwide. At the same time, AI-driven companions and tokenized rewards add depth without requiring high-end hardware, making these games inclusive and adaptable for diverse audiences – from casual players seeking fun to web3 natives interested in tangible rewards.
This new model aligns with global demand for online connection and economic opportunity. As digital interactions become increasingly central to social life, AI companions fulfill this need while enhancing the gaming experience. Paired with web3, they offer players more than entertainment – they provide avenues for both engagement and real-world value. As a result, hypercasual games are evolving into platforms where players build relationships, accumulate real value, and participate in thriving, player-driven economies.
As AI and web3 continue to advance, the boundary between gaming and real-world value will blur even further. Hypercasual games will evolve beyond their current limitations to become interactive, economic environments where players and AI companions create lasting value together. This marks a new era for hypercasual games – one that is as meaningful as it is engaging, and as rewarding as it is accessible.
