In a bold statement that has stirred up the crypto world, Solana Foundation President Lily Liu declared that
Liu’s remark came on March 20 as a reply to a post from Polymarket. That post claimed Meta was shutting down its metaverse division. But the truth was a bit different. Meta announced it would end its VR multiplayer game, Horizon Worlds, but later reversed the decision to keep it running with limited support.
Liu wrote: “Also, gaming on a blockchain is not coming back.” This simple line exploded online. Many saw it as a nail in the coffin for web3 gaming dreams. Others pushed back, arguing the sector still has huge potential.
Adding to the fun, Liu’s X bio lists her as “head of gaming” at Solana Foundation. This title does not show up on her LinkedIn or official Solana pages. It seems like a joke. Even the Solana Gaming X account joined in, congratulating her on the “new role.”
“Also, gaming on a blockchain is not coming back.” – Lily Liu
This is not the first time Liu has downplayed web3 gaming. Back on February 5, she posted a longer thread. She said blockchain networks like Solana should stick to their strengths: finance and tech tools.
In her words, “This blockchain adventure has always been about finance: open financial rails for anyone and everyone on the internet.” She believes gaming does not fit the core use cases for blockchains right now.
Why the skepticism? Web3 games promise ownership of in-game items via NFTs and tokens. But many projects turned into “play-to-earn” schemes. Players farmed tokens more than enjoyed games. This led to quick hype and faster crashes.
Despite Liu’s words, Solana has invested in gaming. Last year, Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko backed MagicBlock’s $7.5 million seed round. MagicBlock builds real-time gaming tools on Solana.
Solana’s fast speeds and low fees make it great for games. Projects like Star Atlas and Aurory have tried to build big worlds on the chain. But even with tech advantages, user numbers and revenue have dropped.
Blockchain games face big hurdles:
Data shows the decline. In 2021, games like Axie Infinity peaked with millions of users. Now, top web3 games have under 100,000 daily players. Investments fell from peaks as VCs seek safer bets like DeFi.
But it’s not all doom. Some games succeed by focusing on fun first. Titles like Pixels on Ronin chain mix web3 lightly with play. They keep players hooked without heavy token pushes.
Liu’s post replied to hype about Meta’s struggles. Horizon Worlds, Meta’s VR game world, faced low users and high costs. Meta planned to shut it down but backtracked after feedback.
This shows even giants struggle with virtual worlds. Web3 gaming has similar issues but adds blockchain complexity. Meta’s pivot highlights a key truth: users want real fun, not empty promises.
Liu’s Point: Blockchains shine in finance. Solana handles thousands of TPS for DeFi trades. Gaming needs different tech like low latency and seamless graphics.
Counterpoint: Tech improves fast. Solana’s Firedancer upgrade could boost speeds. Layer-2 solutions and off-chain compute might fix gaming pains.
Plus, web3 gaming solves real problems:
The future? Hybrid models. Games with optional web3 features. Think Roblox with NFTs for top players.
Solana stays focused on payments and DeFi. But gaming teams keep building. Liu’s “shitpost” from Solana’s chief product officer shows they don’t take it too seriously.
For developers: Build better games. Prioritize fun over tokens. Improve wallets and bridges.
For investors: Look for sustainable projects. Avoid hype-driven ones.
The debate rages on. Is ? Or is it evolving? Solana’s ecosystem will tell. With its speed and growing DeFi, it could still host the next big hit.
Lily Liu’s claim challenges the industry to prove her wrong. Web3 gaming needs innovation, not just blockchain hype. As Solana pushes finance forward, gaming might find its place – or fade away.
Stay tuned. Crypto moves fast. What do you think? Share in the comments.
Keywords: Solana web3 gaming, blockchain games future, Lily Liu Solana, crypto gaming decline
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