Axie Infinity & Play-to-Earn
2021
A game economy brought earning, ownership and player livelihoods into the same conversation.
Origins
Axie Infinity used collectible creatures in a blockchain-based game. Like earlier collectible games, it linked gameplay to tokens that could be held and traded outside the immediate play session.
The moment
The game attracted broad attention during the 2021 play-to-earn wave. A contemporary industry overview documents its growth within the wider blockchain gaming market. This date refers to that expansion, rather than the game’s earlier inception.
The aftermath
The model raised difficult questions about who funds rewards and whether an economy can retain players when asset prices change. The connection to CryptoKitties follows the collectible-creature format; it does not equate their mechanics or their player experiences.