If you ask blockchain game players: Which blockchain game is your favorite?
I believe every player has their own answer. But when asked about the most influential blockchain game guild/community, many veteran players will immediately think of @YieldGuild.
In fact, unlike the player guilds that many people imagine dominating the major blockchain game charts, YGG has now become a leading blockchain game ecosystem, with over 37 million in funding and a market capitalization of 90 million. Furthermore, it has expanded beyond simply being a gaming guild and has developed YGG Play, a blockchain game platform that encompasses both development and publishing.
Past experience has proven that AAA games are difficult to successfully run on Web3, and there's no such thing as a consistently flawless economic model.
YGG's transformation reflects a lesson learned: they're moving away from AAA games and focusing on profitable casual games, directly equating real revenue with token value.
YGG Play's first release, League of Legends Land, is a casual board game similar in gameplay to the popular Web2 game Monopoly-Go. It currently generates a stable $1 million in monthly revenue.
YGG used the proceeds from League of Legends Land to purchase 8.918 million $YGG tokens on the open market at an average price of $0.1702, with a total repurchase value exceeding $1.5 million. Instead of relying on narrative, the token's value is directly supported by cash flow.
What I'm most interested in is YGG's concept of "Casual Degens," which represents their primary target audience for the next phase.
◆Casual refers to lightweight, fast-paced, and low-barrier-to-entry casual gameplay, such as match-3 games, board games, and social casinos.
◆Degens represent crypto-native players who are accustomed to high-risk, high-reward gameplay and are sensitive to tokens and incentive mechanisms.
The combination of these two creates Web3 players who seek both relaxed entertainment and immediate rewards. This group is precisely the core demographic that Web3 games are most easily reached and retained by.
YGG Play is using its "Casual Degens + Revenue Buyback" model to guide Web3 gaming from hype-driven to sustainable, revenue-driven development.
While the business is still in its early stages of validation, YGG has been deeply involved in the blockchain gaming industry for many years and boasts a vast community base. I believe the Casual Degens user profile is quite accurate.
The blockchain gaming sector has experienced a significant bull market, but I hope this new path YGG has found will pan out.