February Blockchain Game Report: Daily Active Users Decrease by 16%, Blockchain Game Investment Increases by 243% Month-on-Month

Original Title: L2 Gaming Activity Grows Over 20,000% in February

Original Author: Dappradar

Original Compilation: Felix, PANews

The global economy is in a turbulent period, with various macroeconomic challenges causing significant damage to financial markets. Investors are grappling with uncertainty, and traditional industries are experiencing greater volatility. Despite the economic downturn, blockchain gaming continues to evolve.

Although the number of daily active users slightly declined in February, user retention remains strong, proving that Web3 games are more resilient than ever. Despite the overall market conditions shifting investors' focus, the gaming industry still attracted substantial funding, securing $55 million in investments just in February. This indicates that the long-term development potential of blockchain games is unwavering.

Key Points

• In February, the daily unique active wallets (dUAW) decreased by 16%, reaching 5.8 million, reflecting broader market challenges, but user retention remains strong.
• opBNB and Aptos maintain their lead in gaming activity, while Soneium and Abstract are gaining traction, with their activity increasing by over 20,000%.
• The trading volume of gaming NFTs reached $41 million, with ImmutableX handling 72% of the transactions.
• Driven by Sorare and CricSage, sports NFTs led in transaction numbers, recording 659,097 transactions and $7.7 million in trading volume.
• Investment in blockchain gaming soared to $55 million, a 243% increase from January, with infrastructure accounting for 92% of all investments.

1. Overview

In February, blockchain gaming experienced a noticeable cooling, reflecting broader market challenges. The daily unique active wallets (dUAW) decreased by 16% compared to January, falling to approximately 5.8 million.

While blockchain gaming previously held a certain market position, the economic situation has redirected investors' attention back to DeFi. Due to market uncertainty causing traders to exit positions, DeFi has now become the dominant narrative.

However, there are also uncertainties ahead. As highlighted in the February Dapp industry report, the AI sector continues to gain significant traction, with certain AI-focused Dapps seeing activity growth exceeding 900%. The growing importance of AI is particularly evident in blockchain gaming, where its application in gameplay and infrastructure is becoming increasingly common.

Some blockchain gaming projects are actively integrating AI:

• Ruyui: This upcoming on-chain virtual avatar project developed by Ruyui Studios is set to launch on Abstract in early 2025. Ruyui combines animation, gaming, and blockchain technology, utilizing AI for dynamic character interactions and personalized experiences, designed for both blockchain enthusiasts and mainstream audiences.
• InZOI: Krafton's upcoming life simulation game features AI-driven characters and plans to release an early access version on Windows on March 28 this year. This innovation will allow non-player characters (NPCs) to engage in realistic interactions, creating immersive experiences.
• The Game Company: By collaborating with Fetch.ai, The Game Company has integrated the Web3-native AI model ASI-1 Mini, enhancing the gaming experience through decentralized AI technology via smart real-time interactions.

The above games are just a few examples of the many projects actively leveraging AI to enhance blockchain gaming.

Top Performing Gaming Blockchains

opBNB remains in the lead, followed closely by the rapidly rising Aptos.

Most of the other chains in the rankings continue to perform steadily. However, significant increases in monthly activity were observed for the following chains:

• Abstract: Recently launched, Abstract's activity is steadily increasing, primarily driven by the gaming dapp Treasure Ship.
• Soneium: Launched by Sony Block Solutions Labs in January 2025, Soneium quickly gained attention, especially through Evermoon, which has rapidly become one of the main growth drivers in the blockchain space.
• Avalanche C-Chain: Although not very well-known, Paradise Tycoon consistently contributes to Avalanche's gaming activity.

2. Outstanding Games

In February, there were significant changes in the gaming dapps sector, with new entrants breaking into the top 10 and existing projects continuing to thrive.

World of Dypians continues to lead. Pixudi also saw significant growth, thanks to its recent announcement of a partnership with Immutable. This move allows Pixudi to offer a smoother gaming experience, advanced blockchain integration, and enhanced asset ownership for its community.

Age of Dino gained attention in early March with the release of "10,000 Ways for Dinosaurs to Die." This AI-driven game will introduce dynamic and unpredictable events, such as volcanic eruptions, meteor strikes, and extreme weather, ensuring that each game is driven by AI mechanisms.

SERAPH: In The Darkness officially launched its second season, improving combat mechanics and redesigning the in-game economy. This season's prize pool amounts to 50 BNB and 6.1 million SERAPH tokens, expected to elevate the competitive level and attract more players.

Off The Grid's user base remains stable, with the announcement of the "OTG IRL Championship" at the HyperX Arena in Las Vegas to excite the community. This event gathered 60 creators for competitions, with a prize of $2,000 for each match, streamed live on Twitch. Additionally, an update was launched in March, including gameplay enhancements and new playable areas.

STAN also made it onto the list, positioning itself as a companion platform focused on community interaction, connecting gamers with content creators through shared interests, friendships, and enriching experiences.

3. Gaming and Sports NFTs Lead Market Activity

In February, gaming and sports-related NFTs performed prominently in transaction activity. While profile picture (PFP) NFTs typically dominate, gaming NFTs ranked second in trading volume, reaching $41 million with 421,853 assets traded. ImmutableX played a core role, handling 72% of the transactions. Series like Guild of Guardians and Gods Unchained continue to drive significant trading activity, reflecting their lasting appeal in the gaming community.

Sports NFTs captured attention with transaction numbers, recording 659,097 transactions and a total trading volume of $7.7 million. Starkware facilitated 98% of the trading activity. Series like Sorare and CricSage led this category, attracting a large number of traders.

The rising popularity of sports NFTs highlights the growing interest in digital collectibles related to sports. This trend is driven by fans seeking more engaging, exclusive digital memorabilia and personalized interactions with their favorite athletes and teams. Additionally, collaborations between sports organizations and blockchain platforms have made NFTs more accessible and tradable.

4. Blockchain Gaming Investment Soars to $55 Million

Investment in blockchain gaming saw a significant rebound in February, totaling $55 million, a 243% increase from January. Infrastructure accounted for 92% of all investments, indicating renewed investor optimism about the long-term potential of blockchain gaming.

Key investments this month include:

• South Korean gaming giant Netmarble's blockchain gaming division Marblex partnered with Immutable to migrate Marblex's ecosystem and games to Immutable zkEVM. The two parties will launch an "Ecosystem Promotion Program" to provide developers with up to $20 million in support.
• Beamable attracted $13.5 million in new funding to further develop its decentralized backend infrastructure for online gaming. This move represents a significant shift away from the industry's reliance on centralized data centers operated by tech giants. Beamable also plans to launch a blockchain token through the Beamable Foundation and open-source its technology, allowing developers better control over their gaming infrastructure.
• Dubai-based gaming startup The Game Company (TCG) raised $10 million through equity and token sales to advance its blockchain-supported cloud gaming platform. TCG's patented low-latency technology allows gamers to access and enjoy games anytime, anywhere, significantly improving the global gaming experience.

Overall, the investment landscape in February highlights growing confidence in blockchain gaming infrastructure, paving the way for adoption and innovation in 2025.

5. Conclusion

Despite the overall market downturn, blockchain gaming continues to evolve, demonstrating its resilience during uncertain times. While user activity has slightly declined, engagement remains stable, and investor confidence is stronger than ever, with significant funding increases. Innovations in AI-driven gaming, NFT adoption, and infrastructure development are shaping the future of the industry, enhancing the long-term potential of blockchain gaming.