Oliver Maroney on OpenSea’s Gaming Strategy

Oliver Maroney, Head of Business Development and Partnerships at OpenSea, has become a key figure in shaping how web3 gaming and digital ownership evolve. With a background in esports management, sports reporting, and content creation, Maroney brings a broad perspective to the intersection of technology and community. Since joining OpenSea, he has focused on gaming as a core area where blockchain and NFTs can deliver tangible value, from enabling true ownership of in-game assets to building tools that make trading and discovery easier for players and developers. His insights highlight both the opportunities and challenges in bringing web3 gaming to a wider audience.

Oliver Maroney on OpenSea’s Gaming Strategy

The Importance of Gaming for OpenSea

Maroney has long been interested in the role of digital ownership in gaming. He points out that players worldwide spend billions of dollars on digital assets such as skins, but often without the ability to trade or resell them securely. With blockchain technology and NFTs, players have the opportunity to own and exchange in-game assets in a transparent and reliable way.

"Gaming has always fascinated me personally. Players invest millions and billions in skins, yet lack viable marketplace options or OTC trading without risking account bans. In this space, the concept of users, players, and games freely trading these assets creates a compelling narrative for virtually anyone, whether they're in the space or not."

He highlights examples such as the trading card game Parallel or titles like Pudgy Party and Off The Grid, where NFTs give players greater control over their digital property. In his view, the concept of ownership across games is inevitable, making gaming a critical vertical for exploring the utility of blockchain technology.

"Beyond skins, I'm convinced that cross-game ownership is inevitable. Whether it's digital trading cards in games like Parallel, costumes or skins in Pudgy Party or Off The Grid, or utility tokens that enhance traditional gameplay mechanics - there are countless reasons to believe in this gaming model. We champion gaming as a vertical because digital ownership and blockchain technology offer genuine, tangible utility in this sector."

Oliver Maroney on OpenSea’s Gaming Strategy

OpenSea’s Role in Web3 Gaming

According to Maroney, OpenSea has established itself not only as a marketplace but also as a cultural hub where users discover new projects across art, gaming, and other categories. He explains that the platform has emphasized storytelling and community engagement through its blog, live game streams, and events. OpenSea has collaborated with creators and professional gamers such as Mongraal while also participating in industry gatherings like GDC and Gamescom to connect with both developers and players.

"Over recent years, we've consistently amplified the space's narratives and celebrated its culture - a key differentiator for OpenSea. While users can certainly buy and sell NFTs and tokens on our platform, the market also relies on us as a discovery hub for everything from art to games and beyond."

In addition to community-building, the company has introduced practical tools for gamers. Cross-chain purchasing enables users to buy in-game assets with a single click, regardless of blockchain. Collection overview pages offer detailed information about items, including videos, graphics, and links, creating an accessible entry point for players and developers alike.

"Two years ago, we began streaming games to spotlight builders in the space and help users understand the functionality of individual skins, items, tokens, and characters within their respective communities. We've also partnered with creators and activated at gaming events - bringing on Mongraal as our first official gamer to build narratives around web3 gaming education, and participating in events like GDC and Gamescom to attract and expand our gaming audience. These efforts position us as the premier destination to discover, explore, and trade anything on-chain."

Oliver Maroney on OpenSea’s Gaming Strategy

The Value of NFTs in Games

For Maroney, NFTs in gaming derive their importance from the quality of the game and the strength of its community. He notes that items such as skins can matter greatly to players, but only if the underlying game is engaging and well-supported. Drawing comparisons with traditional titles like Fortnite and League of Legends, he emphasizes that communities built around strong games are what ultimately sustain long-term interest.

"It depends on your perspective. NFTs can be as straightforward as in-game skins, which matter significantly to many gamers. However, numerous other use cases exist. What makes them truly meaningful is the underlying community and game quality. Without a solid game and engaged community, NFTs may lack relevance."

He identifies skins and in-game tokens as areas currently gaining traction. Skins in particular appeal to players when they provide visible differentiation or added functionality. In-game tokens, while still in the early stages of development, also present potential for new models of gameplay and progression.

"Gamers are notoriously difficult to satisfy - we've learned this from marquee titles like Call of Duty, League of Legends, and Fortnite. Yet these games endure for two reasons: community and quality. The communities surrounding these games have proven resilient over time, and the games remain compelling enough to retain players despite occasional complaints. NFTs matter in games that excel in both areas: quality gameplay and strong community engagement."

Oliver Maroney on OpenSea’s Gaming Strategy

The Path Toward Cross-Game Economies

Discussions around interoperability and cross-game economies are common in web3 gaming. Maroney recognizes the potential but also acknowledges the challenges. Fragmented liquidity and competition among studios make it difficult to achieve seamless integration across different titles. Some progress has been made, including collaborations between games and ecosystem-wide experiments, but he views broader adoption as a long-term prospect.

"We're continuously evolving our product capabilities. We offer cross-chain purchasing, so if I hold ETH and want to buy a weapon in Off The Grid, I can complete that transaction with one click - no bridging, swapping, or additional steps required."

He notes that OpenSea is positioned to play a role in this area because of its cross-chain capabilities, which allow users to transact across different blockchains. However, he believes that achieving full cross-game economies will require more time and industry-wide collaboration.

"When will we achieve true interoperability and cross-game economies? I'm uncertain. OpenSea has a unique advantage because we provide cross-chain experiences - if users hold tokens on one chain and want to purchase on another, they can. However, traditional cross-game economies likely represent a longer journey ahead, given the competitive nature of the gaming industry."

Oliver Maroney on OpenSea’s Gaming Strategy

Engaging Traditional Game Developers

Maroney takes a measured approach when working with traditional game developers who may be skeptical of web3. Instead of making hard sales pitches, he focuses on providing data, insights, and relevant examples. His strategy is to share information and maintain open communication, while avoiding forcing blockchain adoption where it does not align with a studio’s goals. He stresses that successful partnerships depend on genuine interest and a clear fit for both sides.

"Understanding them is paramount. Honestly, we avoid aggressive sales pitches. Instead, we present data, offer insights and information, and help inform potential approaches they might consider. I typically maintain ongoing communication, sharing relevant notes and observations as they develop."

Addressing Security and User Protection

Security remains a central concern for OpenSea. Maroney highlights the role of the engineering and trust and safety teams, who manage thousands of support cases and take measures against fraudulent activity such as fake collections and copy-mints. He acknowledges that security challenges are ongoing but emphasizes that OpenSea continues to iterate and improve its protections for both gamers and developers.

"We do our utmost and continuously iterate to improve our security measures. In summary, we have an excellent engineering and trust & safety team that handles thousands of support tickets, flags, and other risk-related items. Additionally, we maintain robust protocols for removing copy-mints and fraudulent collections."

New Tools for Developers and Players

To support the growth of web3 gaming, OpenSea has introduced tools designed to improve integration and user experience. The company recently launched its MCP server, enabling developers to connect more easily with OpenSea’s data and services. Its API also allows games to embed marketplace functionality directly into their platforms. Beyond these tools, OpenSea is incorporating AI to enhance efficiency, trading, and creative opportunities across the platform.

"We recently launched our MCP server, enabling agents and other services to integrate with OpenSea endpoints and facilitate meaningful interactions between OpenSea and end users. It’s an efficient way for the growing ecosystem of AI Agents to access OpenSea’s data and take action. We envision a new flock of applications built with AI & MCP, unlocking new and innovative use cases."

Oliver Maroney on OpenSea’s Gaming Strategy

Looking Toward the Future

Maroney is optimistic about the near future of NFTs in gaming, particularly as more titles approach completion and release. He believes that a single successful game launched on consoles could introduce blockchain technology to a wider audience and significantly accelerate adoption.

"I'm personally thrilled about games that are nearing completion or finishing development. The prospect of these games launching on consoles and reaching users who've never experienced this technology remains a strong conviction of mine. It only takes one breakthrough game to propel this movement and technology into the mainstream."

Oliver Maroney on OpenSea’s Gaming Strategy

Recent Partnership with us at GAM3S.GG

OpenSea’s recent partnership with us at GAM3S.GG reflects this forward-looking approach. By combining education, discovery, and trading in one environment, he sees our partnership as an example of how the space is evolving to better serve both players and developers.

"I've maintained a longstanding relationship with Omar and your team at GAM3S.GG. Your platform has helped legitimize this space and the emerging technologies we're all embracing, while emulating many historically excellent review sites and gaming platforms. I deeply appreciate what the platform has accomplished in elevating, expanding, and enhancing the space's content and gaming experiences. Our partnership is exciting because it integrates marketplace elements directly into the GAM3S platform, creating a seamless experience that provides a gateway for buying and selling these items while users read and learn about them."