Currently, there are several gaming metaverses in the works; examples include, The Sandbox, Duelist King, the Crucible Network, and other notable projects that use Non Fungible Tokens (NFT’s) to regulate their game. In the future, there will be many more shaping how we view the Metaverse. Some of these Metaverses use or will use what is known as the DAO or Decentralised Autonomous System. As we know, both Blockchain and cryptocurrency are fully autonomous and decentralised, with no central authority controlling their regulation and distribution.
The DAO helps enforce these principles in video games, removing a centralised core leadership and giving the gaming communities power. As a result, all decisions come from its members, with no board or higher authority enforcing judgments on its users. Thus, unlike traditional games such as Fortnite and Halo, which have corporate executives making decisions on top of ivory towers, the players themselves control the decision-making process. As a result, the DAO can fully democratise gaming.
How does the DAO work?
As mentioned, the DAO works on the Blockchain. The DAO consists of a smart contract code on the Blockchain. Each smart contract outlines the rules of the game and how players can act. However, due to Blockchains secure and accountable nature, no one can change the smart contract without unanimous approval from other players. Thus, to change the DAO, users must vote, not with their wallets but with their values. The smart contract is fully encrypted and secure, stopping corruption and users from taking advantage. Therefore, the DAO ensures games will function democratically without exploitation. Although the DAO is still a relatively new concept, having been created in 2016, the Decentralised Autonomous System can revolutionise games for the better, ensuring accountability that we are missing within gaming.
What Does the DAO Mean for the Future of Games?
Video games that use the DAO will be one step ahead of their competitors. Nowadays, video game developers and publishers are struggling with accountability. Every day, we see new stories break about how certain executives of development studios or publishers are taking advantage of employees and even gamers through predatory microtransactions and gaming mechanics such as loot boxes. In the future, if games start to use DAO, the Decentralized Autonomous system will resolve poor accountability in games. As highlighted, the DAO allows games to become fully accountable in the name of democracy. Ensuring such a mechanism is built into our games in the future will put gamers and communities in full control of their games, not stingy executives who want to make a quick buck off of a hidden microtransaction. For example, if gamers dislike certain loot boxes added to a game, they have the power to vote and have them removed. The DAO is the future of gaming in the Metaverse, built on democracy and accountability.
In the end, it will be interesting to see whether more blockchain games will adopt the DAO. It is an interesting concept that puts community first before everything else. However, executives putting gamers first before themselves is rare nowadays. It might take a while before the DAO catches on. In mainstream games like Call of Duty and Fortnite, the Blockchain needs to be adopted before developers use the DAO. As we get closer to the Metaverse, we might see mainstream games start to embrace the Blockchain, NFT’s and cryptocurrency, but it might take some time. Regardless, as games built on the Blockchain become more prominent, we will see more games use DAO. As a result, the DAO could revolutionise gaming for good, finally putting us back in the driving seat of the games we love.
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