The YGG Play Summit 2025 returned to Manila with a clear message: creators are becoming central to the evolution of web3 gaming. Held in Bonifacio Global City, the event drew more than 5,600 attendees and generated over 490 million online impressions across global platforms.
Livestreams on YouTube, Facebook, and X recorded more than half a million unique viewers, reflecting the growing interest in player-driven and creator-led game ecosystems. The Summit’s focus on creators aligned with broader market trends. Creator-driven advertising reached US$37 billion in 2025, growing much faster than the overall media industry, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau.
Social media’s influence continues to climb as well, with Sprout Social reporting that a majority of consumers depend on digital channels to follow entertainment and cultural developments. Within this landscape, the Summit positioned creators as key participants in the transition of web3 games from niche communities to mainstream audiences.
Creator Discussions Set the Tone for Industry Growth
A live recording of LOL Lounge opened the Summit with an in-depth discussion on building long-term careers in web3 content creation. YGG co-founder Gabby Dizon joined GamingGrid’s YellowPanther and Gaming Daily’s Iceyyy to break down the importance of authentic content, sustainable partnerships, and consistency. Both creators highlighted the value of attending in-person events, suggesting that offline interactions remain essential even in a digital-forward industry.
The episode quickly became one of the most-viewed segments on X, joining other popular broadcasts such as the US$100,000 YGG Parallel Showdown and the gameplay demo of Aurory’s Amiko Legends. The Summit also featured a live episode of Gamified IRL led by WolvesDAO’s Sam Steffanina, which covered the limitations of relying solely on celebrity creators for game promotion. Panelists suggested that while such partnerships can create spikes in visibility, long-term user retention requires more community-focused strategies.
WolvesDAO and Beam hosted a creator workshop through YGG’s Metaversity, offering practical insights on content strategy and audience development. WolvesDAO co-founder Payton Kaleiwahea introduced Kizuna, an AI-powered platform designed to analyze engagement data and help creators reward their most active community members. Several high-profile creators, including Jared Dillinger of Agent Daredevil and Pukerainbow of Pukecast, also participated in the Summit’s creator lineup.
Awards Spotlight Developers and Games Leading the Web3 Space
Our GAM3 Awards returned to Manila for its second in-person ceremony, highlighting standout achievements in web3 game development. The 2025 Creator of the Year award went to Cagyjan, co-founder of the Silly Kitties IP and one of the earliest creators in the sector. His career began during the Axie Infinity boom, and he has since become a familiar figure in the regional gaming community.
Gunzilla Games’ Off The Grid (OTG) dominated the awards once again, taking home five titles, including Game of the Year. During a Summit talk, Gunzilla’s Director of Web3, Theodore Agranat, detailed how the studio partnered with well-known creators like Ninja, Shroud, and TimTheTatman to help onboard traditional gamers. These creators played a role in explaining the game’s blockchain mechanics and bridging the gap between established gaming audiences and web3 features.
Other notable winners included Parallel for Best Strategy Game, CCP Games’ EVE Frontier for Best Adventure Game, and Pixels for Best Browser Game. Pudgy Party won both Best Mobile and Best Casual Game, while Gigaverse earned the Games’ Choice award as voted by fellow nominees.
Skills Development Becomes a Core Part of the Summit
Education featured prominently throughout the Summit, emphasizing the need for creators, students, and aspiring builders to stay current with rapid changes in web3 and AI. Metaversity Interactive brought together leaders from studios, government agencies, and academic institutions to discuss the most in-demand technical and creative skills. Representatives from YGG, Mysten Labs, Coins.ph, CCP Games, OP Games, and the DICT participated in the session, alongside graduates of the Sui Builder Program.
The Base-sponsored Prompt to Prototype workshop introduced attendees to no-code tools for building game prototypes. HOWS Asia’s Kat Gonzalez and YGG Pilipinas’ Phee Tejada also launched Creators of Play, a program designed to bridge web2 and web3 creator communities. More than 100 emerging creators have already joined, with future training to be provided through Metaversity.
On-Ground Activities Strengthen Community Connections
This year’s Summit offered several interactive experiences designed to help creators engage with the local community. Activities included a Creator Photo Crawl around BGC, Early Risers sports matches, and a community gathering in Poblacion. The event’s Creator Lounge provided a dedicated studio-style space for content production.
The Cosplay Showdown featured 16 participants, with Ken Cangas winning for his portrayal of Sun Wukong. Coins.ph hosted a “Love in the Metaverse” dating activity, led by content creators Amira Alawi and Kookoo Crypto TV, blending entertainment and community engagement within a web3-themed format.
Support for the Summit came from a broad group of gaming, blockchain, and media partners, including tournament partners Might & Magic: Fates, Parallel, and Vibes, as well as major sponsors such as Aurory, Coins.ph, Sky Mavis, Ubisoft, Earnscape, and Pixels.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the YGG Play Summit?
The YGG Play Summit is a global player-focused event centered on web3 gaming, creator development, and community engagement. It hosts panels, tournaments, workshops, and industry discussions.
Who attends the YGG Play Summit?
The Summit attracts creators, gamers, developers, investors, and industry professionals from around the world, along with members of the YGG community.
Why are creators important to web3 gaming?
Creators help introduce new users to web3 games, build communities, share game updates, and provide educational content that supports long-term adoption.
What are the GAM3 Awards?
Our GAM3 Awards recognize excellence in web3 gaming across multiple categories, including Game of the Year, Best Strategy, Best Mobile, and Creator of the Year.
How does Metaversity support creators and builders?
Metaversity provides workshops, courses, and community programs focused on web3 and AI skills development, helping participants prepare for careers in emerging digital industries.
When will the next YGG Play Summit take place?
The event is scheduled to return to Manila on November 19–22, 2026, featuring new attractions and expanded creator-focused programming.
