The YGG Play Summit, held last week in Manila, Philippines, drew an impressive crowd of over 7,000 local and international gamers, cementing its place as the world’s largest player-focused web3 gaming event. The summit highlighted the crucial role of content creators in the evolution of web3 gaming, celebrating their contributions not just as entertainers but as educators and community builders within the space.

GAM3 Awards 2024

The YGG Play Summit also featured our highly-anticipated GAM3 Awards 2024, where winners were unveiled during a two-hour live ceremony in Manila, streamed across all major platforms. The awards recognized the top games, creators, and ecosystems that excelled over the past year. These victors stood out for their remarkable achievements, showcasing the industry’s progress and innovation.

The ceremony, held on November 22nd, peaked at 48,000 concurrent viewers and amassed over 450,000 views within 24 hours. Off The Grid by Gunzilla Games emerged as a dominant force, winning four awards, including the prestigious “Game of the Year”. Parallel followed with an impressive three awards, while Pixels and Pirate Nation each secured two accolades. 

GAM3 Awards Key Stats

Web3 Creators as Professionals

Content creators in the web3 gaming space are recognized as skilled professionals who engage audiences, build communities, and simplify complex technologies. Unlike traditional gaming influencers, web3 content creators are tasked with explaining concepts such as digital asset ownership and blockchain gaming to their followers. This has turned content creation into a legitimate career path that demands a combination of creativity, business acumen, and technical knowledge.

YellowPanther, the co-founder of Gaming Grid and an ambassador for the YGG Play Summit, underscored the importance of creators in web3: "Creators are especially important because they are the front-facing people who keep the gaming space alive. They provide not just entertainment but also educational value," said YellowPanther, was named our GAM3 Awards 2024 Content Creator of the Year. He added that with so many games launching, the opportunities for creators are immense, and anyone interested can start posting content and build a presence.

YellowPanther Content Creator of the Year

Notable Industry Leaders at the Event

The event also saw the attendance of prominent figures in the web3 gaming space, including Sam Steffanina, co-founder of WolvesDAO. Steffanina, a previous GAM3S.GG Content Creator of the Year, highlighted the importance of creators in driving awareness and engagement within the web3 gaming community. "Creators drive awareness and engagement and play a pivotal role in shaping the narratives and communities that fuel the web3 gaming industry’s growth," Steffanina noted.

WolvesDAO hosted the first CreatorDEN at the summit, providing accommodation and educational opportunities for 15 web3 content creators. These creators included popular influencers such as Fecoxa, Iceyyy, MatDefies, and Cbass, who took part in various activities throughout the event.

Sam Steffanina 2023 Winner

Educational Opportunities for Creators

Content creators, also known as Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), played a significant role in both organizing and presenting the YGG Play Summit. KOLs such as Sedano, Excelsor, and Ruth hosted esports tournaments, show matches, and discussion panels. The summit also featured a Creator Masterclass, led by prominent KOLs Carlo Ople, Kyroh, and Kookoo Crypto. The masterclass focused on how creators can build authentic communities and produce engaging content for web3 audiences, including those new to crypto.

In addition, the summit hosted an exclusive networking event, MatchPlay, which allowed nearly 70 content creators to connect with web3 gaming companies. The event, curated by Southeast Asian marketing agency Madeviral, featured companies such as Pixelmon, TRALA LAB, and MapleStory. The event was designed to bridge the gap between web2 and web3 content creators, offering valuable networking and collaboration opportunities.

The Metaverse Filipino Worker (MFW) Film Premiere

A unique highlight of the summit was the premiere of the short film Metaverse Filipino Worker (MFW). The 38-minute documentary showcased how web3 gaming provides new career opportunities for Filipinos, particularly in content creation. The film featured several members of the YGG Pilipinas community, including a Community Manager, Esports Captain, and Guild Leader, who had turned their passion for gaming and content creation into paid professions.

Metaverse Filipino Worker (MFW) Trailer Showcase

Leadership and Development Sessions

The YGG Play Summit also featured Leaders Roundtable sessions, bringing together industry experts, KOLs, developers, and venture capitalists to discuss the values and ethics of content creation in web3. Topics such as marketing effectiveness, transparency, and combating misinformation were addressed, with a recorded report on these discussions set to be released in early 2025.

Additionally, a Game Jam, co-hosted by YGG Pilipinas, web3 Metaversity, and Sovrun, brought together 35 teams of developers and designers to compete for a PHP 500,000 prize pool. The event featured two tracks: one for beginners and another for professionals. The winning teams, G?Ka and Kusho Guardians, presented innovative game concepts using blockchain technology.

Cosplay and Community Engagement

The summit also celebrated the creativity of cosplayers, who are themselves content creators. A cosplay competition took place, with Izaiah Buelos winning the top prize of PHP 35,000 for his portrayal of KAY/O from Valorant. Cosplay events like these highlight the diverse range of professions within the web3 ecosystem and demonstrate how web3 can bridge digital and physical experiences.

YGG Play Summit Events

Final Thoughts

The YGG Play Summit underscored the pivotal role content creators play in the web3 gaming ecosystem. Through dynamic networking sessions, educational panels, and live demonstrations, the event emphasized that creators are integral to the growth and sustainability of web3 gaming. By fostering collaboration between industry leaders and creators, the summit became a hub for innovation, highlighting how these individuals are shaping the future of the industry.

The GAM3 Awards 2024 added an extra layer of excitement to the summit, celebrating the games, creators, and ecosystems that defined the year. With standout titles like Off The Grid, Parallel, Pixels, and Pirate Nation taking home top honors, the awards highlighted the remarkable innovation and progress in web3 gaming. The resounding success of the awards and their enthusiastic reception further reinforced the vital role of recognition in inspiring continued growth and excellence in the industry.