Asia is shaping the future of blockchain gaming with a growing market, major web2 to web3 transitions, and increasing institutional investment.
By Eliza Crichton-Stuart
Updated March 12th 2025
Updated March 12th 2025
Blockchain gaming is undergoing rapid development, and in 2025, Asia has positioned itself at the center of this evolution. With the region’s gaming market projected to reach $400 billion by 2034, its influence extends beyond market growth, actively shaping the industry's direction. Immutable, a key player in the blockchain gaming sector, is contributing to this movement by partnering with major gaming companies. Among its latest collaborations is MARBLEX, the web3 gaming division of Netmarble, as well as TOKYO BEAST, a new addition from Japan’s largest web3 gaming company. These partnerships reflect a broader shift in the industry, as more established gaming developers integrate blockchain technology to enhance gaming experiences.
Immutable Leads Blockchain Gaming Growth in Asia
A significant factor driving Asia’s web3 gaming expansion is the transition of well-established web2 developers into blockchain gaming. Companies like Netmarble are at the forefront of this transformation, leveraging their web3 division MARBLEX to bring popular franchises such as Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds and Meta World: My City into the Immutable zkEVM ecosystem. These are not small-scale experiments but full-scale transitions, indicating that web3 gaming is moving beyond a niche market to become a core part of the gaming industry. Immutable has now signed agreements with more than 250 games across Asia, reinforcing the idea that blockchain technology is not a passing trend but an essential component of gaming’s future.
In 2025, institutional interest in blockchain gaming has increased significantly, marking a notable shift in how the industry is perceived and funded. One of the most significant developments has been the approval of $100 billion in Bitcoin ETFs, which signals growing mainstream acceptance of cryptocurrencies. Additionally, venture capital investment in blockchain gaming is expected to reach $18 billion this year, representing a 50% increase from the previous year.
This shift indicates that investment is now focused on long-term innovation rather than short-term speculation. Immutable’s zkEVM ecosystem has benefited from this growth, with over 2 million monthly active users. Furthermore, a single MARBLEX game has recorded more daily active users than the entire Ethereum network, highlighting the increasing adoption of blockchain-based gaming.
MARBLEX 2025 Roadamap
Asia has been a global leader in gaming innovation for decades, and its embrace of blockchain technology is following a similar trajectory. One of the main reasons for this success is the shift in ownership structures enabled by web3 gaming. Unlike traditional games where developers retain control over in-game assets, blockchain gaming allows players to own, trade, and sell their digital items, creating a new level of engagement and economic participation.
The region's gaming market is also a major factor, with 826 million gamers and an expected revenue of $42 billion in 2024. More than half of the global mobile gaming revenue is generated in Asia, reflecting the dominance of smartphone-first gaming ecosystems. Southeast Asia, in particular, is experiencing rapid growth, with the market projected to expand from $5.1 billion in 2023 to $7.1 billion by 2028, driven by increasing demand in countries like Indonesia and Thailand.
Immutable x Tokyo Beast
As more web2 gaming companies transition to web3, institutional investments continue to rise, and player-driven experiences gain popularity, Asia remains at the forefront of blockchain gaming. The region is not only adopting web3 technology but actively shaping its future through large-scale integrations and innovative gaming models. Immutable continues to play a key role in this transformation, fostering partnerships and developing the infrastructure needed to support the next generation of blockchain gaming. With a strong foundation and growing market demand, Asia is set to define the industry's next phase in the years to come.
updated:
March 12th 2025
posted:
March 12th 2025