Web3 & Games Part 2: The Ongoing Experiment

Welcome to The Business of Games Podcast, brought to you by Xsolla.In this episode, hosts Chris Hewish and Lia Ballentine move from definitions to deployment. Part 1 explained what Web3 is. Part 2 asks how it’s actually being used in games today and explores what’s working, what’s failing, and why.Joining us are two returning guests on the front lines. David Kim, a publishing and marketing leader who’s advised studios on blockchain and Web3 strategy, and Mark Long, CEO of Villain Studios and former CEO of Shrapnel, one of the first AAA Web3 game studios.Together, they help unpack the messy middle between promise and practice. From Axie Infinity’s boom and bust to CS2, Roblox, and Fortnite as proof that digital ownership already drives real economies, we explore what early Web3 experiments got right and wrong.You’ll hear how smart contracts could unlock new revenue through secondary sales, how player governance and community tokens are reshaping engagement, and how Web3 can open funding doors for indies. But we’ll also confront the friction that’s holding it all back: wallet UX, gas fees, trust deficits, and player skepticism after the hype.By the end, we set up what’s next. If this is Web3’s reality, still rough around the edges but inching forward, what happens when the tech fades into the background and the games come first?What you’ll learn:What early Web3 games taught us about hype vs. sustainabilityHow digital ownership parallels existing in-game economiesWhere studios can capture value through smart-contract royalties and community co-creationWhy wallets, UX, and trust remain the biggest blockersHow “invisible” Web3 design could finally make it mainstreamLet’s get into it.For more insights and resources, visit xsolla.com/podcast. Want to join the conversation? Follow and comment on our LinkedIn page at The Business of Games Podcast. That’s where we’ll be sharing updates, highlights, and continuing the discussion. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast with friends who want to learn more about the business of games.