RolldBox Games’ “Masks of the Void,” based on the Somnia blockchain, definitely sounds impressive. Let’s get honest about the sales hype and start asking some hard questions. Can Somnia live up to all of its ambitious promises, and is this game going to be anything beyond just another flash-in-the-pan NFT greenspace?

Million TPS - Reality or Hype?

Somnia features more than 1M transactions per second, sub-second finality, and sub-cent transaction fees. These numbers are eye-watering. If this were true, it would indeed blow all existing Layer 1 blockchains out of the water. Here's the thing: benchmarks are one thing, real-world performance under sustained load is another. We’ve witnessed this blockchain phenomena bragging about shattering records in the past, only to collapse when put to the test with real-world usage.

Think of it like this: a car company claims its new model can hit 200 mph. Great! Picture that shiny new car when you attempt to drive it on a crowded highway at rush hour. The same principle applies here. I’ll reserve judgement until “Masks of the Void” and other games start reliably handling thousands of concurrent players. They need to manage intricate on-chain operations seamlessly, with no latency or excessive costs.

What if the “1 million TPS” claim is just a best-case scenario achieved under especially controlled conditions? How would that change if we found out it deteriorates terribly under higher levels of network congestion? These are crucial questions that need answering.

Gamers L.A.B. - Revolutionize Player Data?

Uprising Labs' Gamers L.A.B. is an interesting concept: immutable, on-chain player records. Picture a world where your in-game accomplishments, your skill level and your whole gaming history is permanently recorded on the blockchain. No more progress wasted, no more arguing about who performed which tasks. It's potentially revolutionary.

Such extensive use of tech poses alarming concerns around surveillance, governance, freedom and manipulation. Who owns this data? Can players opt out? What if the users miss a step or want to undo/restart their progress? These are some major issues that should be considered and resolved before Gamers L.A.B. can really get off the ground.

Think about your credit score. It’s a long-term track record of your financial trustworthiness, and it can be the single most influential factor in determining many aspects of your life. Now picture that same level of analysis and suspicion turned on your entertainment pursuits, specifically gaming. It’s an exciting idea, indeed, but it must be approached with the utmost caution.

NFTs, Steam Keys - Sustainable Model?

"Masks of the Void" offers a smorgasbord of rewards: NFTs, game passes, Steam keys, whitelist spots, and tokens. It's a veritable cornucopia of digital assets. Is it sustainable? Are these rewards going to continue to be valuable and desirable as time goes on? Or will they fade into obscurity as the game grows older and new editions come out?

This is because a large number of blockchain games are built on the concept of need a critical mass of new players to support their economies. Established players require a new entry to sell their NFTs to, a new party to purchase their tokens. What occurs when the influx of new players begins to dry up? The whole thing can come crashing down and early adopters like you will be left holding the bag.

  • Few blockchain games have managed to create truly sustainable economies.
  • Most rely on hype and speculation.
  • Very few offer players long-term value.

“Masks of the Void” has a tall order to prove that it can shatter such a pattern. And finally, that economic model has to be solid. Most importantly, it should reward all players for their time and investment—not only those players who adopted the game first.

Think back to the Pet Rock fad of the 1970s. Millions of Americans purchased simple stones in cardboard boxes, believing they were on the cutting edge of a lucrative new collectible. The creator made a tidy sum, but the rocks turned out to be completely worthless.

There’s a profound risk that NFTs and blockchain gaming will travel down that exact same path. Hype, speculation, and a generalized fear of missing out can fuel early adoption. Enduring usefulness depends on genuine practicality and permanence.

“Masks of the Void” could be an incredible turning point. Somnia could revolutionize blockchain gaming. It’s important to look at these claims with a healthy dose of skepticism and a desire to do your due diligence.

Don't just take my word for it. Don't just take Somnia's word for it. Do your own research. Test the game. Analyze the economic model. Ask the hard questions.

The future of blockchain gaming is uncertain, but one thing is clear: it will be shaped by informed players who demand more than just hype and empty promises. Going forward, let’s keep Somnia and Uprising Labs accountable and push to make sure they deliver on every one of their ambitious vision. Only time will tell if “Masks of the Void” will truly break new ground. Will yours get noticed, or will it just fade into the abyss as so many others have?

Don't just take my word for it. Don't just take Somnia's word for it. Do your own research. Test the game. Analyze the economic model. Ask the hard questions.

The future of blockchain gaming is uncertain, but one thing is clear: it will be shaped by informed players who demand more than just hype and empty promises. Let's hold Somnia and Uprising Labs accountable and see if they can deliver on their ambitious vision. Only time will tell if "Masks of the Void" will be a true innovation or just another mask in the void.