Play, formerly known as ReadyGG, has launched the Build Play development platform to expand access to Web3 technologies for gaming.

To add some cred to this, Play is also announcing a partnership with TapNation, a mobile game company that will use Play’s platform to integrate Web3 technologies into its games. This partnership will expand the PLAY ecosystem by integrating blockchain features into TapNation’s well-known mobile games, beginning with Rock Crawling: Racing Games 3D.

The platform that provides full access to Play’s tech stack. Until now, these tools were reserved for midcore to major studios, but Play (spelled PLAY by the company) is opening the doors to anyone and everyone ready to build on Web3. The features include the its Play Hub comprising tools like the Play ID, a community-driven marketplace, and the $PLAY token.

In an interview with GamesBeat, Christina Macedo, CEO of Play, said, “We did a rebrand and built a lot of technology for B2C clients. We changed to Play and the $PLAY token to make things very easy to understand and we created our podcast” featuring Play adviser Shawn Layden.

“The message is to build games that players want to play, and Web 3 solves the ecosystem challenges, heightens your ownership, helps you obtain assets online, and lets you grow in transition from Web2 to Web3,” Macedo said.

Macedo and Layden, former chairman of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios, will be speakers at our GamesBeat Next 2024 event on October 28-29 in San Francisco. (You can use this code, gbn24dean, for 25% off tickets; agenda here).

“For us, the Play Development Portal is another step forward in our mission to make Web3 game development accessible, regardless of your experience with blockchain,” Macedo said. “We’ve taken the same tools that helped major studios succeed, and made them available to everyone. It’s our way of saying ‘come as you are’ — whether you’re an indie studio or just starting out, you now have access to the tech and resources that were once only available to the big players. You can create the next big Web3 game, and you can start today.”

Build Play is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform, and it’s part of Play’s ongoing mission to democratize Web3 game development, lowering entry barriers and opening up Web3 technology access to the broader developer community. It integrates with Play’s full suite of B2B tools, offering powerful tools and enhanced features that streamline Web3 game development.

Now, developers of all levels – from solo creators to larger teams – gain access to proprietary APIs and SDKs that simplify the integration of blockchain functionalities into games.

The Build Play development platform

The Build Play platform enables multi-platform distribution, including Telegram game integration. Devs can build and distribute games on multiple platforms, including the rapidly growing Telegram platform that’s experiencing a major boom in user engagement, accessing a broad and active player base.

Devs can also deploy games on any blockchain without the need to understand the complexities of blockchain architecture. This flexibility is essential for scaling games globally and reaching diverse blockchain communities.

And the devs can mint and manage in-game assets as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that can be traded or sold across multiple chains with additional customization options, enabling true ownership for players in line with Play’s commitment.

And devs can create in-game marketplaces where players can trade, buy, or sell in-game assets, facilitating peer-to-peer trading and allowing players to engage in unique game economies.

There are also data-driven analytics where devs can gain deep insights into player behavior, customizing game mechanics, improving engagement, and designing personalized experiences that keep players invested.

This platform is built to scale with the developer’s needs, offering a rich set of features designed to simplify the development process and open up new revenue streams.

Looking ahead

As Play continues to bridge the gap between Web2 and Web3, the newly launched Build Play development platform is just the beginning. Play anticipates empowering thousands of developers to bring their creative visions to life on the blockchain, contributing to a future where Web3 games are as seamless and enjoyable as their Web2 counterparts.

As part of its broader mission, Play also launched PLAYground, a podcast and X Space (Twitter) series designed to share insights about the gaming ecosystem, discuss trending topics, and engage with the Web3 gaming community.

The first episode, “Build Games Players Want to Play”, aired on September 30, 2024, and featured Layden. During the debut episode, Layden discussed the importance of empowering developers.

“If we can get more people playing games, we need more people making games, and we have to give them tools and ideas and avenues to get out to the customer base,” Layden said.

TapNation partnership

With 60 million monthly active users and 1.4 billion downloads across more than 50 games, TapNation is set to deliver Web3 powered features using Play’s software development kit (SDK). With innovations like player-owned assets, NFTs, marketplace integration, and on-chain tournaments, players will soon enjoy deeper engagement and new ways to interact with their favorite games, unlocking new revenue opportunities for themselves and the broader gaming community, the companies said.

“This partnership exemplifies our dedication to continuous innovation and underscores our confidence in Web3 technology. Together with Play, we share a unified ambition: to pioneer tomorrow’s use cases and revolutionize the gaming industry,” said Hervé Montoute, CEO of TapNation, in a statement.

“Partnering with TapNation is a key part of this vision as they truly are leaders in their space,” Macedo said in a statement. “Mobile games have an incredible reach, especially in regions where access to traditional gaming hardware can be limited. By tapping into this, we’re bringing blockchain-powered games to millions of new players, many of whom will experience Web3 for the first time through their phones.”

The first game to showcase Web3 integration as part of this partnership will be Rock Crawling: Racing Games 3D, a highly rated mobile game that has surpassed 15 million downloads on major app stores.