It seems like almost every company in the video games industry is currently evaluating going into NFTs or the Metaverse. However, the backlash against NFTs and the Metaverse has made their sales and adoption slower than expected. According to statistics provided by a recent report from Newzoo, this will change soon.

While many companies have expressed an interest in NFTs and the Metaverse, some companies like Valve has banned crypto and NFT-based games on its Steam storefront. Countries like South Korea have also banned them on mobile storefronts like the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Plus, many gamers are against them.

However, statistics from Newzoo show that many non-vocal gamers remain neutral and unbothered by NFTs and the Metaverse. The report also predicts that publishers in the games industry will continue to use blockchain technology in games, with shareholders and investors of these companies seeing NFTs and the Metaverse as “the next big thing”. These publishers might soon delve into NFTs and Metaverse by using less controversial names that are more marketable.

In addition, the report also cites Facebook’s rebrand to Meta and other factors that will act as huge contributors towards increasing investment in NFTs and the Metaverse, as well as driving more virtual reality (VR) sales, including the upcoming Sony PS VR 2.

According to the same report, many in the esports industry are also looking towards NFTs and the Metaverse as additional revenue sources. For instance, esports organizations are pushing the innovation for loyalty and reward programs by putting them on the blockchain, allowing esports fans to trade digital goods and therefore engaging with the esports brand.

Future blockchain games are predicted to feature deeper gameplay and better graphics, such as Axie Infinity (see trailer below). Statistics also show that Metaverse players are younger than the average gamer in general, which means that the audience will only continue to grow, especially as more companies invest in NFTs and the Metaverse.