GameFi 2025 falls into a funding winter, but Web2.5 games are quietly breaking through

【Crypto World】The GameFi sector in 2025 is experiencing growing pains. Funding has decreased by over 55% year-on-year, and many star projects have performed poorly after launch, leading to a noticeable decline in market enthusiasm. However, the story is far from as bleak as it seems, as more complex changes are quietly taking place.

A new gaming paradigm is emerging—Web2.5 games. These products treat blockchain purely as infrastructure, often skipping the token mechanism altogether and instead focusing on real revenue and gaming experience. Studios like Fumb Games, Mythical Games, and Wemade/Wemix are still generating substantial revenue. They each find their own ways to leverage blockchain technology—some to improve profit margins, some to strengthen user engagement, and others to open new monetization channels.

In comparison, pure Web3 native games can also generate millions of dollars in revenue, but their player base remains relatively small. More painfully, many of these players are bots. Once incentive policies cease, the game's appeal quickly diminishes. Although some teams are working hard to design new mechanisms to break the deadlock, the reality remains challenging.

Web2.5 studios are demonstrating different possibilities. They do not force users to gamble or participate, nor do they need to explain awkward interactions, yet they can fully leverage the advantages of blockchain. As stablecoins become more mature and widespread, this trend will accelerate. Small payments will become more convenient, cross-border settlements will be smoother, and reward mechanisms based on user engagement will become more flexible—these are all becoming a reality.