For years, mobile gamers have poured hours into their favorite titles—grinding, ranking up, collecting skins—only to walk away with nothing but screen time. Meanwhile, a wave of gaming finance (GameFi) projects promised rewards but delivered clunky gameplay, complex wallets, or worse—low-quality games that weren’t even fun or never launched at all.

CryptoZoo, Blockverse, and Ubisoft’s Champions Tactics are just a few examples of GameFi projects that failed to deliver—either never launching, disappearing after cashing in, or frustrating users with clunky NFT integrations. These missteps fueled skepticism around GameFi, especially among gamers who prioritize gameplay over speculation.

Now, that gap is beginning to close. New platforms are merging familiar Web2 experiences with Web3 rewards, allowing players to earn from the games they already enjoy, without confusing wallets or risky ecosystems. This shift is making GameFi more intuitive and secure, while giving developers better tools for reward-based user acquisition (UA) built on real, verified engagement.

Gaming industry continues to grow along with GameFi sector

The global gaming industry continues to experience significant growth, with projections estimating revenues of US$187.7 billion in 2024, marking a 2.1 percent year-on-year increase. This growth is fueled by increased smartphone adoption and the continued popularity of free-to-play games.

Alongside this, the GameFi sector is expanding rapidly. Valued at US$18.49 billion in 2024, it is projected to reach US$126.17 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 27.13 percent.

This trend reflects how financial incentives are being integrated into gaming models, moving beyond traditional entertainment to include earning opportunities tied to gameplay.

As this evolution continues, it’s not just the games themselves that are changing—game developers are changing tactics on how they attract and retain their audiences.

Adoption of better UA strategies

With user acquisition (UA) becoming more expensive and harder to measure due to privacy regulations, many developers are turning to reward-based UA campaigns to boost both reach and retention. A European Gaming report revealed that 82 percent of mobile game developers found reward-based campaigns to outperform traditional UA methods, with 79 percent observing stronger player retention as a result.

These campaigns reward users with in-game items, premium content, or real-world perks in exchange for active engagement—an approach that’s moved from experimental to mainstream in UA strategies. With 62 percent of developers worried about falling behind, reward-based UA is becoming essential. As privacy rules tighten, these systems offer a more resilient, data-driven way to attract and retain users.

Platforms bridging traditional gaming and GameFi

Several platforms are pioneering approaches to integrate traditional mobile games into the GameFi ecosystem, offering innovative solutions for both developers and players.

Buff

Buff is a loyalty and rewards platform that lets users earn points while playing popular PC and mobile games without modifying them. It runs in the background, tracking gameplay activity in titles like Fortnite, Valorant, and various Android games.

Players earn Buff Points, which can be redeemed for in-game items, gift cards, and gaming gear. Buff operates on Web2 and Web3 rails and supports over 1,500 games.

Zebedee

Zebedee is a Bitcoin-powered platform that integrates micro-rewards into mobile and casual games. Through its app, users earn sats (fractions of BTC) by simply playing existing games from the Google Play Store—no modifications needed.

The rewards are funded through ad revenue and paid instantly via the Lightning Network. Zebedee also offers APIs for developers to natively integrate Bitcoin rewards.

PERPLAY

PERPLAY is a Web3-based platform that allows users to earn tokens by playing any game available on the Google Play Store. GameFi apps are commonly complicated for casual gamers, but PERPLAY has a simpler user experience. Users can start using PERPLAY instantly with their Google account, just like any other Web2 app.

Utilizing a patented mechanism, PERPLAY transforms traditional mobile games into GameFi experiences without altering the original game code. The platform employs a Proof of Play system to verify gameplay, ensuring that rewards are granted for genuine user engagement. Proof of Play is based on real-time device data—such as gyroscope activity, screen usage, IP, and GPS signals—to confirm that a game is actively being played on a physical device.

This not only prevents abuse from bots or emulators but also enables PERPLAY to generate accurate gameplay analytics. These insights can then be shared with developers, helping them refine user acquisition strategies with verified engagement metrics rather than estimates.

PERPLAY supports over 500,000 Android games, offering one of the widest coverage footprints among similar platforms. With an Average Revenue Per Paying User (ARPPU) of US$30 per month, a conversion rate of 11 percent, and a 30-day retention rate above 90 percent, the platform has validated both its user traction and monetization model.

The future of mobile gaming and GameFi integration

The integration of traditional mobile games into the GameFi ecosystem represents a significant shift in the gaming industry. By leveraging blockchain technology and innovative monetization strategies, platforms like Buff, Zebedee, and PERPLAY are redefining how developers and players interact with games.

As the industry continues to evolve, the focus will likely remain on creating seamless and rewarding experiences that bridge the gap between traditional gaming and decentralized finance.

#GameFi #Web3Gaming #PlayToEarn #BlockchainGaming #CryptoRewards