Delphi Digital Foresees Web2.5 Gaming Rise Amid GameFi Struggles

GameFi faced a turbulent 2025, with funding plummeting over 55% year-over-year, according to crypto research firm Delphi Digital. Initial hype around blockchain gaming faltered as infrastructure limitations and competition from traditional titles exposed the sector's growing pains. Yet the long-term outlook remains nuanced.

Web2.5 games—those treating blockchain as backend infrastructure rather than a speculative feature—are gaining traction. Studios like Wemade, Fumb Games, and Mythical Games demonstrate viable models, leveraging distributed ledger technology to enhance engagement and monetization without token gimmicks. Stablecoin adoption further accelerates this trend by enabling frictionless microtransactions and global payments.

The dichotomy grows clearer: where pure Web3 games still chase speculative revenue, hybrid models are building sustainable economics. As one Delphi analyst noted, 'The real disruption happens when blockchain becomes invisible—when players care about the game, not the chain.'