YGG Play Summit Shines Spotlight on Web3 Content Creators

Last week, more than 7,000 Filipino and international gamers were present in Manila, Philippines, to experience the YGG Play Summit, the largest player-focused Web3 gaming event in the world. A major theme of the event was to highlight content creators as key players in shaping the future of Web3 gaming, providing a platform for their collaboration, education, and professional growth. 

Far from hobbyists, content creators are skilled professionals who craft engaging narratives, build vibrant communities, and bridge games, brands, and players. Unlike traditional gaming influencers, Web3 creators must also help to simplify complex technologies and champion new concepts like digital asset ownership for their audiences. Increasingly, the occupation is seen as a legitimate and rewarding career path, requiring strong creative and business expertise. The YGG Play Summit celebrated the contributions of the content creators from the Philippines and all over the world.

“In web3, there are the builders, there are the gamers, and there are the creators. Creators are especially important because they are the front-facing people who keep the gaming space alive. They provide not just entertainment but also educational value,” said YellowPanther, co-founder of Gaming Grid and Official Ambassador to the YGG Play Summit, who was named the GAM3S.GG 2024 Content Creator of the Year at the first in-person GAM3 Awards ceremony held in Manila during YGG Play Summit week. “With more games launching, there are so many opportunities to be a creator. For anyone interested to get into it, all they need to do is start posting and stay consistent—their next piece of content might just go viral.” 

As Content Creator of the Year, YellowPanther succeeds Sam Steffanina, who won the GAM3S.GG title in 2023. Steffanina, who is co-founder of the WolvesDAO collective of thought leaders, investors, and builders, also traveled to Manila from the United States to attend the YGG Play Summit with co-founder Payton Kaleiwahea. There, WolvesDAO hosted the first CreatorDEN, a dedicated penthouse apartment that provided accommodation and education to enable the work of 15 Web3 gaming content creators over the course of the week, including crowd favorites iceyyy_gaming, MatDefies, dub, Cbass, Storming, SpikeCollects, and itzBolt. 

“Creators drive awareness and engagement and play a pivotal role in shaping the narratives and communities that fuel the web3 gaming industry’s growth,” said Steffanina. “Bringing this group of creators to Manila wasn’t just about content production; it was about East meeting West and seeing firsthand the Philippines’ impact on Web3 gaming and shaping the industry’s future. Supporting YGG’s mission and amplifying their vision made this event impactful for everyone involved, solidifying why WolvesDAO prioritizes initiatives like these.”

Content creators, also referred to as Key Opinion Leaders or KOLs, had a significant impact on the development, coordination and presentation of the YGG Play Summit itself. YGG-affiliated KOLs Sedano, Excelsor, Munchies, Stephy, Miccolo, Ruth, and others, hosted stage activities including multiple esports tournaments, show matches and game demos, as well as discussion panels. Additionally, a Creator Masterclass was offered by YGG’s educational platform, Web3 Metaversity, led by renowned KOLs Carlo Ople, Kyroh, and Kookoo Crypto, to discuss how creators can promote authenticity, build communities, and produce engaging content specifically for Web3 audiences—including those new to crypto as well as those experienced. 

With the goal to bring more Web2 content creators into Web3, the invite-only MatchPlay speed networking event hosted by Southeast Asian marketing agency, Madeviral, brought nearly 70 content creators to meet with a curated lineup of Web3 gaming companies to explore collaboration opportunities. The companies included Pixelmon, TRALA LAB, SpaceNation, MapleStory, Shatterline, Arena of Faith, Ragnarok: Monster World, Sipher Odyssey, and Sparkball. A panel led by cosplay queen Myrtle Sarossa and content maven Een Mercado invited creators VMG and Extra Rai to share their experience, while giving Web2 content creators the opportunity to learn from those in Web3, start building their network, and share knowledge between peers. 

Providing a rare peek into the everyday professional and personal lives of content creators, a short film titled Metaverse Filipino Worker (MFW) had its red carpet premiere during the YGG Play Summit. The 38-minute short film, which shows how Web3 can be an alternative for Filipinos who do not want to leave their home country in search of work, tells the stories of multiple members of the YGG Pilipinas community who have invested time and effort into their skills development in order to make content creation their paid profession, including a Community Manager, Esports Captain, Guild Leader, Mommy Influencer, Voxel Editor, and more. 

Over two days at the YGG Play Summit, a series of Leaders Roundtable sessions gathered a diverse group of founders and developers, executives, KOLs, Venture Capitalists, legal professionals, journalists, and others, to debate the values and ethics of KOLs in Web3. The recorded discussions—which covered a wide range of topics, including marketing effectiveness, the importance of transparency, prevention of misinformation, how to navigate ethical conflicts, and more—will inform a post-event report to be published in early 2025. 

Additionally, a collaborative coding marathon—or Game Jam—invited teams of developers, designers and innovators to build and enhance games using blockchain. Co-hosted by YGG Pilipinas, Web3 Metaversity and Sovrun, a total of 35 teams and 136 participants competed for a prize pool of PHP 500,000. The Game Jam had two tracks: a Beginners Track for students, and a Professionals Track for experienced developers; the respective winning teams were G?Ka and Kusho Guardians. In Kusho Guardians, players engage with AI-driven Non Playable Characters (NPCs) represented as digital collectibles with their own crypto wallets. 

At the conclusion of the Summit, a cosplay competition attracted participants from all over the country. Izaiah Buelos won the top prize of PHP 35,000 for his portrayal of the character KAY/O from the first-person shooter game Valorant. Celebrated for their creativity and dedication, cosplayers are content creators in their own right. Cosplay events bridge Web3 gaming and physical experiences, showing how there are many professions to explore in the Web3 industry.

At the YGG Play Summit, event-goers saw how content creators shape narratives, drive adoption, and build communities, demonstrating the value in convening industry leaders and audiences with the storytellers who bring web3 gaming to life. 

The event was made possible with the support of Title sponsors Hyperplay and Mantle, and Diamond Sponsors Ubisoft and Coins.ph, underscoring their commitment to advancing Web3.

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