Blockchain gaming: An analysis of the use of blockchain technology in the video gaming industry

Gaming is increasingly becoming a popular use-case for blockchain technologies. Video game development has often pushed technology to its limits, discovering optimal solutions to common problems. This study aims to determine what limitations does this application have and what are the benefits of blockchain integration, ascertaining whether gaming dApps are a topic of consequence. In this context, dApps are applications without a centralized server that are based on a blockchain. An analysis was made on the most exciting projects, identifying the advantages and limitations that come from the use of a blockchain. The main advantages found are the true ownership of digital assets and enhanced user engagement, while the main limitations are the scalability and the speed of transactions. The results indicate that gaming dApps work at their best when they are only an addition to games instead of being the predominant factor, especially in games where an in-game economy is prevalent.