The YGG Play Summit, a prominent event in the web3 gaming landscape, made its return to Manila on November 19, gathering prominent figures from the industry, developers, and community members to explore the future of blockchain gaming and to introduce significant product launches.
The conference commenced on November 20 with a keynote address from Mench Dizon, the Country Lead of YGG Pilipinas. Dizon acknowledged the prevailing market scenario impacting both web3 games and the broader crypto sector, while the atmosphere at the Samsung Hall in SM Aura, BGC, Taguig, radiated optimism.
In her keynote, Emmy Lou Delfin, Director of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)-MIMAROPA, emphasized the significance of Palawan as the site for the first “Metaverse Filipino Worker (MFW) City.” Delfin reiterated the department”s commitment to generating eight million digitally enabled jobs by 2028, with the aim of fostering a “digitally inclusive Philippines.”
Innovations in AI and Gaming Ecosystems
The summit showcased essential product launches alongside insightful discussions on the technical advancements in gaming. A key session titled “AI Agents and the New Architecture of Play,” featured Shi Khai Wei from LongHash Ventures, who spoke about the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in enhancing player experiences. “AI agents can bring companionship. I love to see agents that can tell you “NO”—to have their own mind,” Wei remarked.
Spekter Games took the opportunity to present the Spekter Hub, a new web3 incentive ecosystem that aims to unify all its games. Players can earn “Spark,” the hub”s loyalty currency, by completing various missions, with top performers gaining access to “Spek Vaults”—digital collectibles stored on TON and Soneium that offer multipliers and premium bonuses. In a discussion with Michael Mislos, BitPinas Editor-in-Chief, TK of Spekter Games noted that the hub is designed to enhance the gaming experience without disrupting existing web2 paradigms.
In another highlight, Moku announced the launch of its Grand Arena preseason. This platform, described as a 24/7 fantasy sports and AI battler, introduced “Moki Manager,” a management simulation mode for asset holders. Players can engage in “Moki Mayhem,” a team-based battle mode aimed at leaderboard ascension, with Moku confirming that all preseason statistics will be carried into Season 1, which boasts a prize pool of $1 million.
Industry Insights and Market Trends
Industry leaders also discussed the current landscape of the crypto market and platform advancements. Joony Koo from Spacebar remarked on the industry”s growth trajectory, stating, “There will be a platform that”s gonna be transformative and I don”t think that time for crypto gaming has come yet,” emphasizing the need for developers to explore new concepts.
Oliver Maroney, Head of Business Development and Partnerships at OpenSea, elaborated on the platform”s evolution into a cultural hub, announcing plans to launch a mobile app to facilitate seamless trading of NFTs and tokens. “We believe going mobile is the next step to bring more people in,” Maroney explained.
The need for mainstream gaming infrastructure was underscored by Theodore Agranat from Gunzilla Games, who noted a significant shift in public perception towards NFTs and blockchain games. “It”s not about the technology. It”s about the game,” he asserted, underlining the importance of empowering gamers.
In a session titled “Is Ronin Ethereum”s Nintendo?”, Jeffrey “Jihoz” Zirlin, Co-Founder of Sky Mavis, discussed the strategic direction of the Ronin Network. Zirlin highlighted how Ronin can leverage Ethereum“s security while focusing on user incentives for adoption. He hinted at upcoming developments for the Ronin Wallet that would enhance its real-world utility for Filipinos.
Additional sessions included discussions on token management featuring Daryl Lim from TRIVE Digital and Alessia Baumgartner of DWF Labs, and a fireside chat on “Defining the Next Meta” with Luke Barwikowski of Pixels, who credited the Filipino community for inspiring his team to continue building.
For more updates on the speakers and topics discussed, visit the Twitter thread from BitPinas.
