# Web3 Gaming Has Problems Too

Today’s Web3 games are often referred to by mainstream gamers as being:

1. **A scammy cash grab via NFTs.** Game developer Pixelmon raised over $70m prior to revealing details about their Web3 game. When the game content was released, the [outcry was real](https://futurism.com/the-byte/pixelmon-nft-scam).
2. **A Ponzi scheme around play-to-earn.** One needs not look any further than what has recently taken place around Sky Mavis’ *Axie Infinity* game. Its economy collapsed as new user growth slowed, and without the influx of new money to prop up and expand the economy, [everything collapsed](https://www.theverge.com/2022/4/8/23015468/axie-infinity-blockchain-nft-play-to-earn-game-economics-hack).
3. **An unnecessary use of technology for gaming.** In December 2021, one of the largest game publishers, Ubisoft, unveiled its plan for [Quartz](https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/ubisoft-quartz-appears-to-have-sold-15-ghost-recon-breakpoint-nfts-since-it-launched-3122929); releasing limited edition NFT content into its *Ghost Recon* game. In the way it was created, the NFTs lacked value outside of *Ghost Recon* and did not even need to be associated with the blockchain in its application–a simple database would suffice.
4. **Damaging or harmful to the environment.** Most web3 games are run on the Ethereum blockchain, which is proof-of-work (PoW). PoW requires miners to solve complex mathematical puzzles in order to secure the transactions on the network. To accomplish this, compute power is consumed, resulting in wasted electricity.