Is Avalanche's new free gaming battle pass a revolutionary step towards empowering gamers, or a cleverly disguised form of incentivized engagement that could inadvertently lead to exploitation? That’s the question that kind of just won’t go away with me. After all, who doesn’t love free things? The ability to earn AVAX and NFTs just by playing games is just soooo enticing! Let’s not write off the party just yet.

Freedom or Financial Need Fueling Play?

This battle pass is the first major collaboration between Ava Labs and Playfull. On Magic Eden, it’s inspired by the Fortnite model—finish tasks to unlock rewards! Sounds harmless, right? Let’s talk a little about what makes people excited about these kinds of systems, particularly in developing economies.

Here, living in nearby Accra, my friend Emily imagines the opportunity to make some crypto currency or a cool NFT. Even just a little will go a long way to encourage her! The line between “fun” and “income generation” blurs quickly when predatory real-world financial need is at play. Are we really giving gamers the power with these incentives? Similarly, are we investing in a new global infrastructure that hijacks their time and creativity to subsidize the platform’s and their ecosystem partners’ business models? This isn’t to say that there was malicious intent, but rather that there were unintended consequences.

My grandma was the first person I thought of. She religiously clipped coupons, spending several hours each week to save a few dollars. More than anything else, it was a matter of necessity for her, an extension of her limited resources. Are crypto games the digital version of stockpiling coupons?

The Ethical Tightrope Walk

Whether it’s the promise of “free” or something else, these deals can be a siren song. We’re particularly fond of the freedom to compete and the freedom to make a buck. We should take seriously the ethical imperative that accompanies providing financial rewards for play.

  • Consider the target audience: Are we attracting vulnerable individuals who might over-invest their time in pursuit of these rewards, sacrificing other opportunities?
  • The long-term impact: Does this model foster a healthy relationship with gaming, or does it create a cycle of chasing small gains for significant time investment?
  • The "fun" factor: When earning becomes the primary goal, does it diminish the intrinsic joy of playing games?

Avalanche provides the best scalability with outstanding capacity to process high volumes in parallel. Parker Heath, Gaming Lead at Ava Labs, views the battle pass as an on-chain watering hole. However, if not carefully managed, watering holes can quickly turn crowded, competitive, and even toxic.

Beyond Rewards: True Empowerment Lies Where?

Rather than pushing to reward players’ engagement at any cost, let’s work together to incentivize engagement that favors long-term prosperity and ethical behavior.

  • Skill development: Can we incorporate educational elements into games that help players develop valuable skills applicable to other areas of their lives?
  • Community building: Can we foster genuine collaboration and support within gaming communities, rather than just competition?
  • Charitable giving: Can we create mechanisms for players to contribute their earnings to worthy causes, creating a sense of purpose beyond personal gain?

Ultimately, the success of Avalanche's free gaming pass shouldn't be measured solely by the number of users or the volume of transactions. It should be evaluated by how the lives of the players that it seeks to serve have changed. Is it really empowering them to be creative, or is it just another piece of the attention economy wall?

Off the Grid has a staggering 300,000+ daily users. MapleStory N has gained nearly 770,000 users within its first month. Behind these numbers lies a complex, systemic story. We need to look beyond the surface and ask ourselves: Are we building a gaming ecosystem that is both innovative and ethical?

Avalanche has the opportunity to be a leader here. It requires a critical self-assessment and a commitment to prioritizing the well-being of its players above all else. Rather than simply incentivizing gamers, let’s equip them with the tools and resources to succeed. It’s all part of a collective responsibility to ensure that the potential future of blockchain gaming is smart, sustainable and inclusive.