Play-to-earn NFT games are the most popular in India, Hong Kong, and the UAE

India, Hong Kong, and the UAE are the top three locations where play-to-earn games are most popular. In a recent study, Finder estimated that 34% of the Indian respondents had played play-to-earn (P2E) games, Hong Kong ranked second with 29%, while the UAE held the third position with 27%.

According to Finder’s NFT Gaming Adoption Report, play-to-earn games have become a very popular niche for users around the globe. Specifically, the results revealed that men under 35 years old are more likely to interact with the NFT gaming industry.

India is the global leader as every third respondent admitted they have played a P2E game. Hong Kong follows closely with 29%.

The UAE, a place deeply engaged with the crypto sector, ranked third, with about 27% of its polled residents saying they have played such games.

Finally, France and Sweden were at the bottom with 6% and 4% respectively.

Meanwhile, another recent study by DappRadar revealed that blockchain-based games raised $2.5 billion in Q1, 2022 from investors. The bold forecast predicts that total investments could exceed $10 billion (assuming the current pace maintains).

Among the most notable examples are Yuga Labs and Immutable-X. The former is a studio behind the NFT collection Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC). Two months earlier, it secured a $450 million fundraiser led by Andreessen Horowitz.

At the same time, Immutable-X, which hosts two of the most popular blockchain games – Gods Unchained and Guilds of Guardian – raised $200 million, with a valuation of $2.5 billion.

Also, Splinterlands, Alien Worlds, and Crazy Defense Heroes ranked as the most attractive games for the player base.

With the region’s youthful population, blockchain-based P2E gaming is becoming one of the fastest-growing innovative sectors in the Middle East. Industry players believe that the $181 billion gaming revenue to be made this year will increase substantially soon due to blockchain games.

According to Arabian Business, the gaming and e-sports sector in Saudi Arabia is worth $1.09 billion, with mobile gaming leading the way with 19.3 million players, 13.9 million consoles, and 13.4 million PCs.