Web3 Gaming and Digital Ownership with Aaron Moon

I had the pleasure of speaking with Aaron Moon, someone who has a fascinating perspective on Web3 gaming. From his early days working on PC setups to his current role at Immutable, Aaron has seen the full spectrum of gaming's evolution. We talked about how technology has changed over the years, how gaming has evolved, and how the rise of blockchain is transforming digital ownership.One of the key things we explored was the struggle that many Web3 games face: making the experience as fun and engaging as traditional games. A few years ago, a lot of Web3 games were focused on the financial aspects, which left the gameplay feeling secondary. But Aaron shares how new titles are flipping that script, prioritizing play and creating a whole new wave of decentralized gaming that's focused on more than just tokens and financial mechanics.Aaron shared some examples of his favorite Web3 games, like RavenQuest, which brings back the charm of pixel art and dungeon-crawling MMOs, and Hunters On Chain, where you hardly even realize you’re creating a wallet because it’s so seamless. He emphasized that what makes Web3 games different is the focus on true player ownership. For the first time, gamers can have their in-game assets be truly theirs, and that ownership adds value and longevity to the virtual worlds they spend their time in.A major part of our conversation was how Immutable is creating a Web3 ecosystem centered exclusively on gaming. Aaron explained how the company avoids DeFi distractions to focus on a user experience that feels like what gamers already know and love. He walked through how Passport, their wallet and identity solution, is making it much easier to log in to Web3 games. Passport's single sign-on feature doesn't look or feel like a crypto wallet, but it packs all the benefits of digital ownership right into a player's experience, so there’s no headache over setting up accounts and handling crypto details.We also talked about the growing potential of eSports and how Web3 gaming can enhance the value of games for years, or even generations, to come. Aaron sees digital ownership as something that not only creates deeper engagement but also keeps games fresh and interesting for a long time.For those looking to get started, Aaron shared a few links worth exploring:* Hunters On Chain: A great example of a Web3 game with a smooth login experience.* Passport: The go-to wallet and identity solution for Immutable games: https://passport.immutable.com* Passport Games: Check out Web3 games on Immutable's zkEVM: https://passport.immutable.com/games* Passport Gems: Earn rewards while playing and completing quests: https://passport.immutable.com/gems* Marketplaces Integrated with Immutable zkEVM: Browse through a range of partnered marketplaces like Sphere, Tokentrove, OKX, Atomichub, NFT Trade, Rarible, Mintable, and Kinguin.We also touched on the upcoming games launching on Immutable's zkEVM, like Guild of Guardians, Mystery Society, and Space Nation—titles that are set to make a big impact in the Web3 space.If you're interested in the future of gaming, how player-centric worlds are developing, or what Web3 has in store for gamers, this conversation is one you won’t want to miss. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit franckcushner.substack.com