Laying the Groundwork for Web3 Gaming

Arbitrum, the Ethereum layer-2 network, is starting to make a name for itself in gaming circles. While it’s best known for helping scale blockchain apps, it’s now being positioned as a real option for AAA game developers. In an interview with Decrypt, Offchain Labs CEO Steven Goldfeder said Arbitrum's flexibility and support for mainstream coding languages are making it a strong fit for teams building serious games.

Arbitrum Laying the Groundwork for Web3 Gaming

Arbitrum Laying the Groundwork for Web3 Gaming

The key feature here is Arbitrum Stylus. This tool lets developers write smart contracts using C++ and Rust instead of being locked into Solidity, Ethereum’s native language. For studios already deep into building with engines like Unreal or Unity, that means they don’t have to relearn everything just to tap into web3 features.

Goldfeder sees this as a major step toward making blockchain tech something developers actually want to use - not just something they feel they have to figure out.

Arbitrum Laying the Groundwork for Web3 Gaming

It’s Gaming First, Blockchain Second

Some developers are already using Arbitrum in ways that look a lot like what big gaming studios could do in the future. Proof of Play launched its on-chain RPG, Pirate Nation, on Arbitrum before eventually migrating to its own network still powered by the same tech. Xai Games is taking a similar approach.

This “start on shared infrastructure, then branch out” model isn’t just a gaming thing. Robinhood is doing the same with its tokenized stocks platform, using Arbitrum to build a custom Ethereum layer-2. Goldfeder says it’s all about flexibility - give developers room to build and scale at their own pace.

He also made it clear that games on Arbitrum don’t have to lead with crypto. “It’s gaming first, blockchain second,” he said. The blockchain piece just adds functionality behind the scenes without getting in the way of the experience.

Arbitrum Laying the Groundwork for Web3 Gaming

Big Studios Still on the Sidelines - For Now

Ubisoft and Square Enix are among the few traditional publishers experimenting with blockchain. Ubisoft’s Captain Laserhawk: The G.A.M.E. has taken things a step further by introducing AI-controlled agents tied to NFTs that can vote and govern within the game world. It’s an early look at how game systems could evolve on-chain, but it’s still the exception, not the rule.

Most of the big names haven’t jumped in. Rockstar Games has banned NFTs and crypto from GTA V servers, and there’s been no sign of blockchain in anything official about GTA VI. Microsoft and Mojang have taken a similar stance with Minecraft, banning token integrations on community servers.

On the flip side, Sony launched its own Ethereum layer-2 network, Soneium, built using Optimism’s stack. It recently launched a gaming app incubator backed by Astar Network and Startale Cloud. So while the space is still fragmented, movement is happening.

Arbitrum Laying the Groundwork for Web3 Gaming

Arbitrum Gaming Ventures Is Betting Big

To give developers more support, the Arbitrum DAO launched Arbitrum Gaming Ventures in May. The fund committed $10 million to its first wave of projects, including Proof of Play and Xai Games. The idea is to make sure studios building on Arbitrum have the resources they need to scale without giving up control.

That kind of funding could help close the gap between blockchain gaming’s potential and its current reality. By backing real projects with real teams, Arbitrum is trying to move the conversation past whitepapers and hype into something that actually works.

Arbitrum Laying the Groundwork for Web3 Gaming

The Bottom Line

Blockchain gaming still has a long way to go, especially when it comes to getting major publishers on board. But tools like Arbitrum Stylus are helping lower the barrier to entry by giving devs access to familiar languages and more flexible infrastructure.

Right now, Arbitrum isn’t pitching itself as the only answer. It’s just trying to make building easier. And if the goal is to bring web2-quality games into the web3 world, that might be exactly what the space needs.