Female players make up more than 45% of the total gaming population, yet only 35% felt represented in the games they played, according to Meta's 2020 research report. It's certainly time for more games to reflect this growing diversity, with many gamers highlighting they would play more or identify better with the games if they saw themselves reflected in the characters.
GameFi could help change this. Blockchain-based models are becoming an ever more popular part of the gaming universe, with such games' usage increasing by more than 2000% year on year. As GameFi expands and matures into a wide range of genres, this presents a fantastic opportunity for Web3 leaders to meet the needs of female players that have not thus far been adequately represented through traditional gaming. Here's why inclusivity matters in GameFi.
Inclusivity encourages engagement
Inclusive environments help to foster player engagement. Female players are less likely to get involved or feel immersed if games continue to play out stereotypes or fail to represent a diverse range of voices. Indeed, more than 75% of female mobile gamers in the aforementioned report said they had noticed people being represented in a stereotypical or clichéd way.
The growing diversity of players gives GameFi developers and companies an amazing chance to make people feel more comfortable and included — crucial to the longevity of any game. Embracing inclusivity sets projects up for success: women find games more appealing and therefore are more likely to spend more time playing them.
Aesthetics are also important when it comes to inclusivity: a recent report from The Female Quotient highlighted this as the biggest deciding factor in onboarding women into Web3. Equally important to consider is women's preference for mobile gaming, as they make up more than 51% of players.
We factored these aspects into Fashion League, the first female-centered mobile RPG game on the blockchain, creating a game that specifically appealed to women through thrilling visuals as well as providing a fun way for female players to explore their digital identity.
Customization is key
Customization matters: over 67% said they prefer to customize the in-game experience in Meta's report, and this presents an excellent way to diversify the game and enable players to express their identities.
This is something we tap into with Fashion League, We enable gamers to customize the game by owning and creating their virtual clothing line which is tradable through NFTs, as well as through fashion-led community building. Brands can also display their virtual products and customize them according to product-market fit.
Plus, we develop a strong feedback loop with our community thanks to our DAO-focused governance, ensuring our players are at the heart of the decision-making process and that we truly understand what our players want from the game going forward.
Addressing representation at all levels
Meaningfully addressing representation within the GameFi space means not just looking at the game's characters and storylines, but also considering how these games are marketed and the composition of a game's senior management. Having diverse voices at the highest echelons of game development is critical for innovation, as this provides unique perspectives that ultimately improve the game. Fashion League was created entirely by female designers and developers, ensuring that we properly catered to women's needs and experiences.
The Web3 world provides an exciting opportunity to create a fair and equal ecosystem from scratch. And as one of the world's now most prolific forms of entertainment, leveling up representation in gaming is becoming increasingly important. GameFi has a chance to represent a wide range of experiences without having entrenched structures making change difficult. Projects that truly reflect gaming diversity will be key in helping reach as well as retain female audiences in Web3.