Louis-Antoine Etchian is director of technology at web3 analytics company Helika.

The gaming industry has traditionally relied on centralized servers and authorities to control in-game assets. Players may invest countless hours, and sometimes money, into acquiring items, but their ownership has always been subject to the rules of the game’s creators. With the rise of blockchain technology and smart contracts, however, we are witnessing a shift towards true player ownership in
gaming.

The concept of “trustless” ownership is revolutionizing the way players control, trade, and interact with in-game assets.

What is trustless ownership?

Trustless ownership, in the context of blockchain gaming, refers to the ability of players to truly own their digital assets without relying on a centralized authority to validate or manage them. Through the use of smart contracts, ownership is secured on the blockchain, making assets immutable and allowing players to have full control over their items. Once a player owns an item, they can transfer or trade it as they wish, without the risk of losing it due to a change in the game’s rules or a shutdown of the server.

Smart contracts are key here. They are self-executing contracts where the terms of the agreement between buyer and seller are directly written into lines of code. This allows for transparent, automatic transactions that don’t rely on intermediaries. In gaming, this means that ownership, transfers, and trades can happen seamlessly and securely, providing players with unparalleled freedom and control over their digital assets.

It’s also important to understand that not all smart contracts have the same goals and flows. While smart contract A might give full freedom to the users, smart contract B might have more rules based on aspects such as time, transfer volume, consent from the game developers, and other business rules. As with any contract, it’s important to fully understand the terms and conditions before signing.

How trustless ownership empowers players

The concept of true ownership through smart contracts offers a range of advantages for players:

• Asset security: With smart contracts, once a player acquires an in-game asset, it is recorded on the blockchain, ensuring that the item is secure and cannot be altered, lost, or taken away by the game’s developers. This level of security allows players to invest in games with the confidence that their assets are safe from external changes.

• Interoperability across games: One of the most exciting aspects of trustless ownership is the potential for asset interoperability. A player might earn an item in one game but be able to use or trade that item in another game, creating a broader ecosystem where assets can move freely across different game worlds. This breaks down the silos of traditional gaming and enables new levels of engagement and player-driven economies.

Challenges and opportunities

While the concept of trustless ownership is game-changing, it is not without its challenges. One key issue is the need for wider adoption of blockchain technology across the gaming industry. Currently, only a fraction of games are built on blockchain platforms, limiting the opportunities for players to experience
true ownership. Additionally, ensuring asset interoperability between games requires collaboration between developers and the creation of shared standards for asset design and usage. However, the opportunities far outweigh the challenges.

As more game developers recognize the value of empowering their players through blockchain, we will likely see a shift in the industry towards more open, decentralized game economies. This could pave the way for entirely new genres of games where player ownership and control over assets are central to the experience.

The future of player ownership

The introduction of trustless ownership through blockchain technology and smart contracts is a significant step forward for the gaming industry. By giving players true control over their in-game assets, we are moving towards a future where the lines between virtual and real-world economies blur. In this new era, players are not just participants in a game but active owners and traders of valuable digital assets.

This shift has the potential to reshape the gaming industry, making it more player-centric and offering gamers new levels of freedom and security. For game developers, embracing trustless ownership could lead to more vibrant, sustainable in-game economies and stronger player communities. The future of
gaming is one where players are in control, and blockchain is the key to unlocking that future.