Web3 gaming has long struggled to create a sustainable economy in its games. Many of last year's crypto-games promised players that they would earn rewards for playing, but in practice, most of these economies relied on speculation rather than genuine demand.
A new game, EMPIRES, is trying a different approach. Developed by Black Ice Studios, the browser-based strategy MMO aims to create an economy with real customers. In this case, the customer is the player base of CITADELS, a triple-A extraction shooter that will be released soon.
Players in EMPIRES manufacture gear and cosmetics for CITADELS players who need them to survive in the game's hostile environment. This creates a loop where demand is driven by real-world gameplay rather than speculation.