Our GAM3 Awards, a standout event in web3 gaming, is set for a grand return this December 2023. Excitingly, our panel of judges includes familiar figures from 2022 and new voices spanning various corners of web3 gaming. Among the noteworthy additions are experts from web3 gaming venture capital firms, blockchain and ecosystem specialists, infrastructure partners, and content creators. We're also privileged to have esteemed leaders from the gaming realm and tech giants like Amazon and Google joining our distinguished jury lineup.

Statistics and research reports hold tons of valuable information for both regular and advanced investors to understand the current situation of the web3 gaming industry and try to predict where it can go next from here. One of the current leaders in that aspect is Naavik, able to provide its 100+ portfolio of clients with a variety of services. This includes business strategy, market research, due diligence, design, economy, tokenomics, and UA consulting. Abhimanyu Kumar, the Co-Founder of Naavik, is a member of the GAM3 Awards jury and shared with us the moment he chose gaming as a career sector and anticipation of the industry's "Supercell moment."

1. What is the most enjoyable part of your role?  

“There are many things I enjoy about what I do at Naavik, and so it is quite hard to pick just one. Overall, I quite enjoy the entrepreneurial grind, delivering immense value to our clients, partners, and industry audience, and enabling uniquely exciting opportunities for all members of the Naavik team.”

2. How do you see the progress made in web3 gaming since last year? 

“Unfortunately, a lot of the progress has been under wraps, as the market situation over 2023 just hasn't been a great environment to shout about one's progress from the rooftops. But, what continues to keep me optimistic is that the entrepreneurs and game teams who are really serious about this space continue to learn from the market, adapt to an ever-changing web3 landscape, stay frugal to maximize runway, and continue to build towards an evolving game thesis.”

3. What is the most valuable addition web3 brings into gaming, from your perspective, if any?

“If you asked me this question a couple of years back, I would've said "ownership as a new value vector for players". Today, large player volumes and revenues from web3 gaming remains to be seen, and a lot is left to be proven out. That said and to take a more long-term view on this question, I'd say the most valuable additions web3 has brought into gaming is fresh funds, fresh talent, and a fresh perspective. While the longer-term industry benefits of the first two items are rather obvious, it's really the third that is my favorite because web3 gaming has pushed the entire industry to expand its definition of what a video game (including its associated business model and player expectations) even is. Some have accepted this definition of expansion, while others haven't - and that balance will probably never skew one way. But, in my opinion, the resulting friction from trying to expand the definition has pushed industry thinking forward in many valuable ways and across all key industry stakeholders. That knowledge and experience will transcend the future of web3 gaming itself.”

4. What is your outlook on 2024 and beyond for web3 gaming?

“In one word, "stasis". As we covered in our 2023 Web Gaming Report, the vertical is still going through a major reset after the 2022 market correction, and 2024 will likely be no different.”

The return of our GAM3 Awards in 2023 promises to be a celebration of the web3 gaming industry's growth and innovation. With industry figures like Abhimanyu Kumar on the jury, the event is set to recognize excellence in the ever-evolving world of web3 gaming.