GamesBeat Next 2023 was a premier gathering for game developers, publishers, investors, executives, and industry visionaries. The event, held in San Francisco, explored the evolving landscape of the gaming industry, emphasizing agility and adaptability as key factors for success.

This year's GamesBeat event had several vital themes, most notably the potential impact of the metaverse and web3 on the way we make and play games today. Throughout the event there was a positive sentiment towards the importance of blockchain technology, user experience, and game design for successful web3 games, setting the stage in a new era in gaming.

Generative AI's role in gaming was also a highlight, with experts discussing its potential contributions to the industry. The importance of diversity in gaming, coupled with insights into GenZ consumers' attitudes and expectations regarding the metaverse, marked another significant aspect of the conference. The convergence of Hollywood and games was a topic that intrigued many attendees.

GamesBeat Program Highlights 

The GamesBeat program offered a comprehensive range of components designed to foster collaboration, learning, and structured networking. These included roundtable discussions, question and answer sessions, VIP lunches and dinners, diversity-focused breakfast events, one-on-one meetings, and an awards ceremony.

One of the most eagerly awaited announcements was the inaugural list of Game Changers 2024, presented by Lightspeed and GamesBeat. With nominations from the gaming and venture communities across five key categories: game studios, gaming platforms, interactive technology, extended reality (AR/VR/MR), and blockchain/web3.

The response was overwhelming, with over 100 entries from Lightspeed investors and GamesBeat editors. After two days of careful consideration, they submitted the nominees to a panel of judges comprising C-level gaming executives and leaders from top companies, including Meta, Epic Games, Microsoft, and more.

The judges voted on each candidate, and their collective scores determined the winners:

• Best Game Studio: Gardens
• Best Gaming Platform: Astrocade
• Best Extended Reality: StatusPro
• Best Blockchain and Web3 Technology: Horizon

Main Web3 Gaming Takeaways

The event overall was a testament to the growing enthusiasm for web3 gaming. As Bonnie Rossen of the Disney Accelerator noted, the gaming industry is embracing web3, recognizing its potential benefits for both games and gamers. The spotlight shone on companies like GGWP, and Sequence/Horizon, with the latter even making its mark on the NASDAQ board in Times Square.

Horizon won “Best Blockchain and Web3 Technology” with Sam Barberie accepting the award on behalf of his team. Horizon is both a maker of games and a builder of foundational web3 infrastructure. Creator of Skyweaver, one of the first free-to-play blockchain trading card games, the company also built Sequence, an all-in-one development platform that makes it easy to build web3 games, wallets, marketplaces, and much more within the Ethereum blockchain.

Sequence is built full-stack, end-to-end for a reason. Everyone here knows you don’t build half a game on Unity and half a game on Unreal and hope for the best. So whether that’s wallets, marketplaces, or SDKs for Unity, Unreal, and mobile, Sequence makes sure that the developer journey is seamless and complete so the player journey is seamless and easy.

Sam Barberie Head of Strategy and Partnerships at Horizon

With Sequence, Horizon’s co-founders and team have created a tool that could change how web3 games and apps are developed. The ability to create a non-custodial, multi-chain smart wallet in two clicks is truly a game changer. It’s no surprise that the Canadian-based company was named one of the World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneers of 2022. 

Interestingly, attendees at GamesBeat were less concerned about the "web3" label and more focused on the overall gaming experience. The games that captivated them were those that offered fun and the promise of future enjoyment.

Amir Satvat, CBO at Tencent expressed positive sentiments for web3. Having enjoyed his experience playing web3 games like Champions Ascension and Tollan Worlds exemplified the industry's growing optimism. 

“Web3 gaming is not just a trend; it's a promising future.”

Amir Satvat, CBO at Tencent

Ultimately, GamesBeat Next 2023 reinforced the industry's dual commitment to keeping consumers satisfied and providing enjoyable gaming experiences. Whether through games, packages, or features, the consensus was clear: Happy customers translate to more revenue. The gaming world is witnessing a collaborative effort to craft remarkable experiences for both creators and players alike, ensuring that the future of web3 gaming remains bright.

Final Thoughts

GamesBeat Next 2023 left a lasting impression, highlighting the gaming industry's commitment to embracing innovation, web3, and creating memorable experiences for its diverse and passionate audience. As the gaming world continues to evolve, one thing is certain: The future looks promising.