Thirdweb, a San Francisco-based start-up that provides a comprehensive Web3 infrastructure toolkit, has hired Atif Khan as their new Vice President of Gaming. The company aims to streamline the process of Web3 game development and has recently built an on-chain survival action game named Web3 Warriors to demonstrate the effectiveness of their toolkit. Thirdweb raised $24 million in a Series A funding round last year, achieving a valuation of $160 million, with notable investors including Haun Ventures, Polygon Labs, and Shopify.
Thirdweb’s Objective and Approach
Thirdweb’s main objective is to foster growth in the Web3 gaming sector and provide developers with a comprehensive solution that alleviates their need to navigate multiple platforms. Their toolkit enables developers to construct decentralized applications including blockchain games and NFTs. Thirdweb caters to developers who require specific components from other service providers and can accommodate such choices, embodying its flexible approach. This modularity aligns with the current trend among users who desire tailored experiences, particularly regarding wallet options, which include smart, local, custodial, or non-custodial wallets.
Atif Khan’s Vision and Thirdweb’s Priorities
Atif Khan, previously an executive at Meta, brings a wealth of experience to Thirdweb. He looks forward to utilizing Thirdweb’s extensive toolkit in service of game developers. Atif Khan anticipates a shift in the industry’s focus towards the added value that blockchain can offer users and developers. He points to popular games like Candy Crush as examples of the critical role community and social aspects play in a game’s success. Thirdweb places high importance on creating games that offer enjoyable gameplay and promote user engagement. Integrating blockchain features, such as non-custodial wallets and cosmetic NFTs, is a significant part of their gaming development approach. In addressing the challenges the play-to-earn model poses, Thirdweb seeks to prioritize entertainment value over merely providing cryptocurrency rewards.
Thirdweb recently designed an on-chain survival action game named Web3 Warriors to demonstrate the effectiveness of their toolkit. In just three weeks, the game was introduced to Base’s testnet, an Ethereum layer-2 scaling network developed by Coinbase. It saw impressive engagement, attracting over 500 players and logging over 1,000 sessions in the first week alone. Through the creation of accessible mobile games, Thirdweb aims to drive the adoption of Web3 technology and establish itself as an essential developer tool in the Web3 ecosystem.
Thirdweb’s hiring of Atif Khan as VP of Gaming is significant for the Web3 gaming sector. The company aims to foster growth in the sector and provide developers with a comprehensive solution that streamlines the process of Web3 game development. Thirdweb’s modularity aligns with the current trend among users who desire tailored experiences, and their toolkit enables developers to construct decentralized applications including blockchain games and NFTs. The company prioritizes creating games that offer enjoyable gameplay and promote user engagement, and Atif Khan anticipates a shift in the industry’s focus towards the added value that blockchain can offer users and developers. Through the creation of accessible mobile games, Thirdweb aims to drive the adoption of Web3 technology and establish itself as an essential developer tool in the Web3 ecosystem.