Immutable, a Web3 gaming company, is gearing up to introduce its custom scaling platform, zkEVM, powered by zero-knowledge proofs (ZK-proofs), in early 2024. This innovation aims to entirely eradicate gas fees for gamers, delivering a seamless experience.
The zkEVM from Immutable presents an opportunity for blockchain-based game developers to eradicate end-user transaction fees, setting the stage for what they claim will be a "frictionless onboarding" for gamers into Web3 games.
Traditionally, Web3 games built on blockchain networks have necessitated players to pay gas fees to network validators for processing transactions. Immutable's CTO, Alex Connolly, emphasized the importance of creating a user experience that feels familiar and smooth to attract mainstream gamers, noting that gas fees are one such aspect that might deter them.
Connolly highlighted the significant barrier posed by gas costs, especially when integrating digital asset ownership into gaming experiences. Immutable's zkEVM intends to address this challenge by allowing game developers to sponsor gas fee payments for Immutable Passport users, effectively eliminating these transaction costs.
The company plans to offer gas fee sponsorships for all games within its ecosystem for a limited period after the mainnet launch. They estimate that game studios might incur gas fees ranging from $500 to $1,000 for every 100,000 users in their game environments. According to Connolly, supporting gas fees could potentially boost player adoption rates and increase revenue for game studios, eventually becoming a similar expense to infrastructure or server costs.
Immutable anticipates that their zkEVM solution will not only help game developers cut down on development expenses but also grant them access to the Ethereum ecosystem's security and network effects. This initiative has garnered support from over 20 game studios, including notable names like GameStop, TokenTrove marketplace, Kongregate, and iLogos, who have pledged their backing for the beta launch.
