【Crypto World】The GameFi sector in 2025 is experiencing growing pains. Funding has decreased by over 55% year-on-year, and many star projects have performed poorly after launch, leading to a noticeable decline in market enthusiasm. However, the story is far from as bleak as it seems, as more complex changes are quietly taking place.
A new gaming paradigm is emerging—Web2.5 games. These products treat blockchain purely as infrastructure, often skipping the token mechanism altogether and instead focusing on real revenue and gaming experience. Studios like Fumb Games, Mythical Games, and Wemade/Wemix are still generating substantial revenue. They each find their own ways to leverage blockchain technology—some to improve profit margins, some to strengthen user engagement, and others to open new monetization channels.
In comparison, pure Web3 native games can also generate millions of dollars in revenue, but their player base remains relatively small. More painfully, many of these players are bots. Once incentive policies cease, the game’s appeal quickly diminishes. Although some teams are working hard to design new mechanisms to break the deadlock, the reality remains challenging.
Web2.5 studios are demonstrating different possibilities. They do not force users to gamble or participate, nor do they need to explain awkward interactions, yet they can fully leverage the advantages of blockchain. As stablecoins become more mature and widespread, this trend will accelerate. Small payments will become more convenient, cross-border settlements will be smoother, and reward mechanisms based on user engagement will become more flexible—these are all becoming a reality.
This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.
12 Likes
Reward
12
7
Repost
Share
Comment
0/400
SwapWhisperer
· 12-30 13:25
Ha, finally someone dares to tell the truth. Those GameFi projects that rely solely on hype concepts are doomed.
Web2.5 is the right path. I want to see how those projects that only draw pie charts will die.
Well said, token mechanisms are just a breeding ground for scams.
Funding has dropped by 55%? Serves them right. Bad money drives out good money. Now it's time for those who truly focus on product to make money.
This is exactly what I've been saying: prioritizing experience over tokenomics is the future.
Teams like Wemade have long been heading in the right direction, much more reliable than those new rookies.
By the way, how are the new projects from Fumb and Mythical lately? Has anyone used them?
Projects transitioning to Web2.5 can survive, so don't expect too much.
View OriginalReply0
LiquidityWizard
· 12-30 11:00
honestly, 55% drop sounds catastrophic until you actually run the numbers on what was sustainable anyway... Web2.5 just sidesteps the entire ponzinomics trap, which—theoretically speaking—should've been obvious from day one but here we are. Fumb and Mythical getting real revenue while pure GameFi burns... the correlation there is pretty statistically significant if you ask me
Reply0
GateUser-a606bf0c
· 12-30 02:09
This is the right way, stop messing around with those flashy token mechanisms.
Web2.5 is the future, no need to rely on hype to survive.
Funding downturns, let it be. Focusing on good products is more important than anything.
Mythical Games is indeed stable this time, understanding what true monetization means.
Those pure GameFi projects deserve to fail; they never considered player experience.
Wait, no, could Web2.5 be just another hype...
Speaking of which, revenue is the real indicator, funding scale is just a cloud.
It seems only reliable studios can survive; retail investors are about to be taught a lesson again.
View OriginalReply0
FallingLeaf
· 12-30 02:09
Damn, Web2.5 is the real path. Projects that hype tokens every day were doomed from the start.
---
A 55% drop in funding isn't surprising. The ones that can truly survive are those not relying on shitcoins.
---
Mythical Games' approach is indeed ruthless; blockchain should be used this way.
---
Finally, someone clarified that the core issue with GameFi isn't blockchain itself but those worthless coins.
---
It's hard to hold on. Pure GameFi is dead. Turns out, Web2.5 is the future. This reversal is quite interesting.
---
I just want to see the numbers on Fumb. Looks like they're really making money?
---
Damn, now I understand what a blow to the dimension means—great experience + real profit. Token mechanisms are just a burden.
---
So ultimately, it's a matter of competitiveness. No matter how good the packaging, you still need to be able to play.
View OriginalReply0
ReverseTradingGuru
· 12-30 02:00
I’ve seen it all along, pure crypto circle games are just hot potato, Web2.5 is the right path.
Web2.5 gameplay is truly excellent; using the chain as a tool, not relying on tokens to cut leeks, focusing on gaming experience and actual returns—this is the long-term strategy.
A decline in funding is not scary; what’s scary is still playing old tricks with projects. They should wake up.
It feels like Wemix and their team have already figured out the secret; while others are still telling stories, they are already making money.
Honestly, the problems with GameFi have never been the chain itself, but those developers who only want to cash in on the token circle.
If they keep hyping tokens, it will be truly over; they need to learn how to build products.
In the 55% drop in funding, how many still want to survive with Ponzi schemes? Wake up, everyone.
View OriginalReply0
NFTArtisanHQ
· 12-30 01:58
honestly the tokenomics death spiral was inevitable... but this web2.5 pivot? that's just infrastructure realism dressed up as innovation. blockchain as utility, not spectacle. finally.
Reply0
GateUser-0717ab66
· 12-30 01:52
Hmm... a 55% funding cut really exposes the true nature of the air project.
Web2.5 should have been played like this from the start; stop always thinking about relying on tokens to harvest profits.
Mythical Games really makes money quietly.
But the problem is that most teams simply can't develop good games...
GameFi 2025 falls into a funding winter, but Web2.5 games are quietly breaking through
【Crypto World】The GameFi sector in 2025 is experiencing growing pains. Funding has decreased by over 55% year-on-year, and many star projects have performed poorly after launch, leading to a noticeable decline in market enthusiasm. However, the story is far from as bleak as it seems, as more complex changes are quietly taking place.
A new gaming paradigm is emerging—Web2.5 games. These products treat blockchain purely as infrastructure, often skipping the token mechanism altogether and instead focusing on real revenue and gaming experience. Studios like Fumb Games, Mythical Games, and Wemade/Wemix are still generating substantial revenue. They each find their own ways to leverage blockchain technology—some to improve profit margins, some to strengthen user engagement, and others to open new monetization channels.
In comparison, pure Web3 native games can also generate millions of dollars in revenue, but their player base remains relatively small. More painfully, many of these players are bots. Once incentive policies cease, the game’s appeal quickly diminishes. Although some teams are working hard to design new mechanisms to break the deadlock, the reality remains challenging.
Web2.5 studios are demonstrating different possibilities. They do not force users to gamble or participate, nor do they need to explain awkward interactions, yet they can fully leverage the advantages of blockchain. As stablecoins become more mature and widespread, this trend will accelerate. Small payments will become more convenient, cross-border settlements will be smoother, and reward mechanisms based on user engagement will become more flexible—these are all becoming a reality.