At a recent press conference in Manila, the the YGG Play Summit's organizers and key figures previewed the summit’s upcoming showcase of cutting-edge developments in blockchain gaming and how these innovations are reshaping both entertainment and the digital economy. Running from November 19th-23rd, 2024, at the SMX Convention, SM Aura BGC Taguig in Metro Manila, the event will gather top industry leaders and enthusiasts for a five-day exploration of the emerging possibilities within web3.

YGG Play Summit 2024: Redefining Gaming and Work

The Future of Play

A central theme at the summit will be the transformation of digital ownership and in-game economies driven by blockchain technology. Keynote panels will discuss the influence of web3 on gaming, focusing on the evolution of traditional games such as chess and trading card games (TCGs). Brian Chan, Head of Anichess, and Carlo Ople, Founder and CEO of Unbox Digital Media Group, highlighted the appeal of integrating blockchain-based features like non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and decentralized marketplaces into strategy games.

This approach enables players to own digital assets, trade them openly, and participate in enhanced gameplay dynamics. Panelists also noted that web3’s development has transitioned from a focus solely on financial incentives to a more immersive and rewarding gaming experience. Brian Chan explained that blockchain technology empowers players to directly influence the games they play through decentralized governance, encouraging greater community engagement and ownership. 

“Early on, a lot of people were just in web3 gaming for the financial incentives. But today, you can see that the quality of games has improved dramatically and web3 games can be fun on their own, even without the tokens. The idea of building on-chain goes further than this; we want to empower our community to contribute to the game. By using a decentralized governance model, players who are deeply invested in the game can contribute directly."

Anichess: Chess, Esports and Web3

Bridging Play and Work Via Web3

Beyond gaming, the YGG Play Summit will examine how web3’s advances intersect with the future of work. YGG co-founder Beryl Li introduced YGG’s Future of Work program, an initiative designed to offer participants digital skill-building opportunities that extend beyond web3 gaming.

Targeting fields such as AI data labeling and decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN), the program aims to prepare participants for the demands of a modernized, digital economy. Fellow panelist Wei Zhou, CEO of Coins.ph, highlighted how platforms like licensed crypto exchanges support the financial infrastructure needed for digital gig workers to convert cryptocurrency earnings into local currency.

The YGG Future of Work program aligns with YGG’s mission to bring economic opportunities to Filipinos worldwide. Mench Dizon, Country Head for YGG Pilipinas, emphasized the convergence of web3 and AI, expressing optimism about the program’s role in bridging skills gained through gaming with real-world applications across various industries.

“We’re excited about how the future of play connects with the future of work because digital skills learned in web3 games are becoming relevant across industries. The convergence of web3 and AI is going to redefine the way we work and play together, and we’re seeing the early signs of this today."

Mench Dizon, Country Head for YGG Pilipinas

Over 50 Industry Thought Leaders

The summit’s Industry Day will bring together more than 50 web3 experts, including prominent figures like YGG co-founders Gabby Dizon and Beryl Li, Head of Base Jesse Pollak, and Paul Bettner, co-founder of Wildcard. The event will also feature invite-only Leaders Roundtables, gathering insights from key opinion leaders on web3 gaming trends expected to shape 2025.

Primary sponsors, including HyperPlay, Mantle, and industry partners such as Aptos, B3, Ubisoft, and OpenSea, support the event’s mission to advance the future of web3. In collaboration with MADEVIRAL, a side event will bring over 100 gaming creators together with curated web3 game developers to explore potential partnerships for 2025.

Beryl Li Co-Founder of Yield Guild Games (YGG) 

Gamer Expo and Esports Tournaments

The Gamer Expo, a major feature of the summit, will include interactive demos and show matches from over 40 leading web3 games, including Star Atlas, Blade of God X, and Sparkball. Attendees can experience first-hand how web3 innovations are being implemented in popular game titles.

The summit will also host several esports tournaments with substantial prize pools, including a Parallel TCG tournament offering a $100,000 grand prize for the top 16 players, alongside tournaments for games like Arena of Faith, Anichess, and Indus, each featuring a $10,000 prize.

In addition, Web3 Metaversity will conduct a Game Jam where developers and students can pitch their ideas for modding, social games, digital assets, and on-chain game mechanics. The top concepts will share a PHP 500,000 prize pool, while a cosplay competition with a PHP 130,000 prize pool will celebrate the creativity and community spirit of web3.

YGG Partners with Parallel for $100k Tournament

Our GAM3 Awards Ceremony

The YGG Play Summit will also feature several red-carpet events, including our first in-person GAM3 Awards. This ceremony will celebrate outstanding achievements in web3 gaming, accompanied by a performance of classic video game themes by the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra. An exclusive red carpet event will premiere “Metaverse Filipino Worker,” a five-part video series documenting how digital work and web3 can transform lives.

Scheduled to run from November 19-23, 2024, the YGG Play Summit promises to provide insight into how web3 gaming and decentralized work models are reshaping the digital landscape. Tickets are available now, with early bird discounts ending on November 1, 2024.