IMX | The Engine Behind Web3 Games, the True Future King?
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IMX | The Engine Behind Web3 Games, the True Future King?
In the new economic era, it's not the big fish eating the small ones, but the fast fish eating the slow ones. – Chambers
Navigating Web3 tides with focused insightsAuthor: DiamondHands
Illuvium, Gods Unchained, MyCryptoHero, Guild of Guardians.
These are all blockchain games that have recently attracted significant attention. They share one common trait: they are all built on Ethereum. However, Ethereum’s throughput and gas fees have long been major challenges for developers.
Despite these issues, these games still chose Ethereum because they found the same partner: Immutable X token: IMX
Website: www.immutable.com
What is IMX
1- The Backbone Behind Blockchain Games
Simply put:
Immutable X is a Layer 2 protocol built on Ethereum, designed specifically for NFT trading.
Blockchain games on Ethereum that build on Immutable X can achieve zero gas fees and fast transactions.
Website screenshot
As mentioned earlier, due to Ethereum's limitations, many blockchain game developers have chosen alternative public chains or sidechains. After comparing public chains like Tron and Flow, and sidechains such as Polygon and Ronin, Immutable X ultimately decided to build its protocol on Ethereum.
They believe that Tron and Flow will gradually lose their advantages once Ethereum’s Layer 2 solutions mature; meanwhile, sidechains like Polygon and Ronin are less secure and decentralized than Ethereum itself.
In summary, they believe Ethereum will remain the ultimate king in the long run.
We won’t go into technical details here, but we can indirectly validate the feasibility of this approach by looking at its current partners.
Immutable X Partners
The diagram includes several well-known blockchain games and OpenSea, indicating that Immutable X has already proven to be a viable solution.
2- IMX Connects All NFTs
Immutable X is gradually building its empire from the ground up via its protocol.
On Immutable X, you’ll find its native token IMX, an official marketplace, and even a Play-to-Earn mechanism.
Immutable X Official Marketplace
Immutable X integrates IMX, the marketplace, and Play-to-Earn with its ecosystem projects.
Projects built on Immutable X can list their in-game NFTs on the official marketplace, while users can earn Play-to-Earn rewards—IMX token airdrops—by playing these games.
Introduction to IMX
As the official token, IMX serves three main purposes:
Governance: Holding IMX grants voting rights;
Transactions: 20% of every transaction fee on the marketplace must be paid in IMX;
Staking: Users stake IMX to earn a portion of transaction fees.
Functions of IMX
IMX is not yet listed on any exchange and can currently only be obtained by playing ecosystem games (e.g., Gods Unchained) and receiving airdrops.
This is the full picture of IMX—a protocol, a marketplace, and an interconnected ecosystem where IMX and ecosystem projects mutually reinforce each other through its own Play-to-Earn model.
The Potential of IMX
1- Future Infrastructure for Ethereum-Based Blockchain Games
We are currently in a booming yet chaotic period for blockchain gaming—projects range from serious game developers to copycats.
Every new project must first choose a suitable blockchain.
Overview of Ethereum-based blockchain games
Ethereum was once the top choice for many projects, but due to the high-frequency nature of gaming transactions, more and more blockchain games have opted for alternative solutions.
Even games like Axie Infinity, hindered by Ethereum’s limitations, chose to develop their own Ronin network.
Unlike Polygon, Immutable X uses zk-rollup technology, aligning with Ethereum’s Layer 2 vision while boosting performance.
Its emergence offers a viable path for game developers who want to stay on Ethereum.
Additionally, as previously noted, Immutable X has launched its own marketplace. As more projects join, its ecosystem grows stronger. Immutable X could ride the wave of blockchain gaming and grow alongside Ethereum’s evolution.
2- Technological Applications Beyond Gaming
Although Immutable X claims to be built for NFT trading,
its technology isn’t limited to just NFTs.
Immutable X Developer Guide
At its core, Immutable X leverages zk-rollup technology to offer a zero-gas, high-throughput solution.
While this solution is currently most applicable to NFTs in blockchain games, as applications evolve, it wouldn’t be difficult for Immutable X to adapt its solution to other use cases with similar needs.
After all, the ingredients are already there—it just depends on how you cook them.
Of course, this logic doesn't apply only to Immutable X—competitors could follow the same path.
IMX Might Have Missed Its Moment
When discussing blockchains suited for gaming, we must mention WAX, a strong competitor whose native token WAXP has recently drawn considerable attention upon launch.
WAX
WAX is a public chain built specifically for NFTs. While its TPS may not match Immutable X, it boasts strong IP partnerships and leads the NFT space with over 320,000 wallets.
Moreover, platforms like AtomicHub built on WAX enhance liquidity for in-game assets.
AtomicHub
Immutable X is a solid solution and could become a key engine driving Ethereum-based blockchain games.
However, this engine faces two potential issues:
1- It might have missed its window of opportunity.
2- Limited programmability.
Most current blockchain games have already made their blockchain choices.
Among the top 10 blockchain games, only one is based on Ethereum—and even that runs on its own sidechain, Ronin.
DappRadar Game Rankings
In this era, most games have already picked their lanes.
For established games, migrating again would require complex trade-offs.
And how many new blockchain game projects remain, and how many of them will choose Immutable X, remains uncertain.
Additionally, while zk-rollup is widely recognized as Ethereum’s best scaling solution, it suffers from poor programmability.
This explains why Immutable X provides technical support to development teams after offering its solution.
Immutable X Technical Support Overview
For blockchain games, more than a robust underlying infrastructure, what matters most right now may be speed to market and ease of development. In both aspects, Immutable X currently holds no clear advantage. Overall, Immutable X is a project with strong fundamentals, but given room for optimization, its timeline for success may be significantly extended.
As the engine powering Ethereum’s blockchain gaming ambitions, the vehicle—Ethereum—may never fall behind.
But this particular engine might fade from public view simply because it failed to catch the current wave.
After all, in today’s world, it’s always the fast fish eating the slow ones.
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