Executives affirm permanence of GameFi airdrops, yet acknowledge their inability to salvage subpar games

Gaming studios are expected to continue using airdrops and other incentives to attract players, despite some resistance from gamers, according to industry executives. Kieran Warwick, founder of gaming studio Illuvium, stated that airdrops are an easy way to gain market share. However, he emphasized that games must also deliver on the fun and gameplay aspect to be successful. Shi Khai Wei, founder of venture capital firm LongHash Ventures, stressed the importance of making games enjoyable. While token incentives may attract airdrop farmers instead of real gamers, Warwick acknowledged that it is a necessary evil to grow the player base. Gabby Dizon, CEO of Yield Guild Games, argued that not everyone is seeking a financial return and that airdrops can help speed up GameFi adoption. Warwick and Dizon believe that GameFi still has a long way to go before it catches up to traditional games, but they expect the gap to close quickly. It may take several more years for a dominant GameFi project to emerge and push the sector forward, similar to how Clash of Clans and Candy Crush did for traditional gaming in the early 2010s. However, Wei remains confident that a AAA-standard game will be released in the GameFi industry by 2024.