New Trend in Web3 Risk-to-Earn Gaming

The web3 gaming sector is seeing a shift in how game economies are structured. A new model known as "risk-to-earn" is being tested by developers as a potential replacement for token-based earnings. Instead of relying on inflationary token systems or external capital, this approach uses player spending to create self-sustaining prize pools. Games like Cambria, RavenIdle, and experiences on the Ronin Network are demonstrating early signs that this model may offer a more stable path forward for web3 gaming. In this article, we summarize a report from Juice look at the new meta risk-to-earn.

New Tend in Web3 Risk-to-Earn Gaming

Cambria’s Player-Funded Seasonal Loop

Cambria offers a clear example of how risk-to-earn works in practice. The game launched without the usual token release or speculative hype cycle. Instead, it introduced players directly to its world, focusing on gameplay where progression is tied to risk. Players gather resources, craft gear, and enter dangerous zones where death can lead to the loss of items that are not stored in a safe location.

These zones introduce real consequences, as other players can eliminate you and take your equipment, creating a constant tension between advancing and retreating. To access the earning mechanisms, players must obtain a Royal Charter. These can be minted or borrowed from other players acting as Viceroys, often organized through in-game guilds.

Charters enable players to convert progress into Royal Favor, which can be used for rewards, bribes, and seasonal airdrops. Those who acquired Founder NFTs during the early phase received permanent access to future seasons and other in-game benefits. In its second season, Cambria attracted more than 20,000 participants and generated a prize pool of $1.5 million in ETH, all funded through player spending rather than outside investment or token emissions.

New Tend in Web3 Risk-to-Earn Gaming

RavenIdle Adopts the Model with Idle RPG Mechanics

RavenIdle, developed by the team behind RavenQuest, is extending the risk-to-earn model to the idle RPG genre. The game is scheduled to launch on July 4 via Immutable and will begin with a $70,000 prize pool funded through Battle Pass sales. Depending on participation, this pool may increase to $570,000. Players guide characters through dungeon environments, collecting resources, crafting gear, and completing daily objectives.

Although the game progresses while players are offline, success depends heavily on the decisions made during active play, including route selection and strategic development. As with Cambria, there is no reliance on a token economy. Instead, value is derived directly from player participation. The more time and effort invested, the greater the potential share of the final rewards. This structure emphasizes a direct relationship between gameplay and outcomes, without speculative mechanics or external funding sources.

New Tend in Web3 Risk-to-Earn Gaming

Ronin Network Applies the Model at Scale

The Ronin Network is adopting similar principles at the infrastructure level. One example is Jin’s Fortune Spin, a gacha-style capsule mechanic that recorded $318,000 in player spending within its first three days. Of this, $222,000 worth of NFTs were cycled back into the system, contributing to a trading volume that surpassed $540,000. Players participate through fixed-cost spins, with transparent, on-chain probabilities.

Assets obtained can be sold, traded, or retained, keeping the system active without introducing new tokens or drawing from treasuries. The model is designed to operate as a closed-loop system. Value remains within the ecosystem, driven by user engagement and asset scarcity. This structure eliminates the need for ongoing token emissions or artificial incentives, addressing a key issue that has challenged the sustainability of many web3 games.

New Tend in Web3 Risk-to-Earn Gaming

A Shift Toward Sustainable On-chain Economies

The growing interest in risk-to-earn systems reflects a broader pivot within the web3 gaming industry. Many earlier games struggled to maintain long-term value due to inflationary tokenomics and reliance on external funding. As development budgets tighten and treasuries shrink, developers are seeking alternatives that allow games to fund themselves through player activity.

In a competitive global market where traditional games offer polished and accessible experiences, web3 titles need more than just playability—they require purpose. Risk-to-earn models offer players a reason to stay engaged, not only through gameplay but also through the possibility of measurable returns. While not all participants will earn, the structure ensures that value remains within the ecosystem, offering sustainability that token-driven models often lack.

Cambria and RavenIdle represent early case studies of how this approach can be implemented across different genres. The Ronin Network’s application of the model across its ecosystem further supports the idea that risk-to-earn could evolve into a foundational structure for web3 games. If this trend continues, it may define how future on-chain economies are built and maintained.

Here are all the IPs mentioned in the article:

• Cambria
• RavenIdle (RavenQuest mentioned as the developer behind RavenIdle)
• Jin’s Fortune Spin (a game mechanic on the Ronin Network)
• Axie Infinity (indirectly referenced through "Origin Axies" in the Ronin section)