Upcoming Telegram Gaming Expansion Rooted in Reimagining Traditional Games: Creators of 'Notcoin' Predict Resurgence
Jump into Decrypt's Gamified Hub: Telegram's Scene
This year, Notcoin's tap-to-earn Telegram game sparked a revolution, but the phenomenon soon faded due to underwhelming token launches and overcomplicated schemes. Fast forward to today, and the creators of Notcoin are convinced that revamping classic video games on their Not Games platform will initiate the next Telegram gaming boom.
Sasha Plotvinov, co-founder of Notcoin, spilled the beans to Decrypt that the demand for tap-to-earn games did not significantly grow following Notcoin's release, despite the influx of games in the market. He attributes the rapid demise to market saturation, along with the monotonous gameplay involving just tapping your screen to earn in-game points.
Now, the team at Notcoin believes the future of Telegram gaming lies in focusing on the gameplay, rather than token reward schemes. As Sasha shared at Token2049 in Dubai this week, they are looking back at games that were popular due to sheer enjoyment and aiming to replicate that, while also introducing a layer of crypto economy.
To create a sustainable economy, the teams are leveraging The Open Network (TON) to enable players to trade skins and cosmetics on an open marketplace. Sasha is adamant about avoiding "pay-to-win" mechanics. He envisions a Telegram gaming market akin to the massive Counter-Strike skin economy, estimated at $4.2 billion, and mobile hits like Candy Crush Saga and Clash of Clans.
But what makes Telegram the preferred platform? As Vladimir Plotvinov shared, "Playing a classic game requires downloading it from the App Store. In Telegram, you can play in an instant with the web app." This ease of use also opens up greater potential for social virality. Uliana Salo, head of design and product lead for Not Games, believes reinvented classics can utilize Telegram's built-in social features effectively.
In the future, Not Games aims to scale up by revamping more classic video games on Telegram. Their first attempt is a reimagined Agar.io, called Void, with more games on the horizon. The Plotvinov brothers admitted that they never anticipated Notcoin's viral success and learned that you don't need a perfect product to gain notoriety. They intend to launch ideas quickly and stay adaptable to user feedback.
According to Sasha, there's no reason why Telegram gaming won't succeed. With 1 billion active users, it offers an unmatched opportunity to push a play button and start a game from anywhere in the world. To help Telegram achieve its gaming destiny, Not Games will continue to reinvent classic video games on the messaging app.
Enrichment Data:
- Focus on Fun-Driven Gameplay: Notcoin's team is placing more emphasis on creating games that prioritize intrinsic enjoyment over financial rewards, shifting players' motivation away from traditional tap-to-earn mechanics.
- Accelerator Programs and Developer Support: The Helika Telegram Gaming Accelerator (2024-2025) supports developers in creating games that leverage Telegram’s unique features, integrating data-driven design principles, and mentoring on social sharing and mini-app distribution.
- Cross-Platform and Multi-Chain Expansion: Games like PAWS and Pixelverse are migrating or integrating with Solana and LINE to expand their audience, suggesting a broader approach to platform-agnostic development.
- AI-Driven Development Efficiency: AI is being harnessed to accelerate coding processes, allowing developers to focus on creativity rather than repetitive tasks, potentially leading to faster iteration on gameplay mechanics and richer user experiences.
- Key Trends for 2025: Expect to see viral social mechanics, status-based systems, and hybrid models, as developers aim to create lasting engagement independent of speculative token models.
- Notcoin's team is focusing more on creating games that prioritize intrinsic enjoyment over financial rewards, shifting players' motivation away from traditional tap-to-earn mechanics.
- The creators of Notcoin believe the future of Telegram gaming lies in focusing on the gameplay, rather than token reward schemes.
- In the Helika Telegram Gaming Accelerator (2024-2025), developers are supported in creating games that leverage Telegram’s unique features, integrating data-driven design principles, and mentoring on social sharing and mini-app distribution.
- Games like PAWS and Pixelverse are migrating or integrating with platforms like Solana and LINE to expand their audience, suggesting a broader approach to platform-agnostic development.
- AI is being harnessed to accelerate coding processes, allowing developers to focus on creativity rather than repetitive tasks and potentially leading to faster iteration on gameplay mechanics and richer user experiences.
- The team at Notcoin is leveraging The Open Network (TON) to enable players to trade skins and cosmetics on an open marketplace, aiming to replicate the massive Counter-Strike skin economy and success stories like Candy Crush Saga and Clash of Clans.
- According to Sasha, Telegram gaming won't succumb to the underwhelming token launches and overcomplicated schemes that plagued the first wave of cryptocurrency adoption, with an aim to achieve its gaming destiny.
- Uliana Salo believes that reinvented classics can effectively utilize Telegram's built-in social features, making gaming more social-media-centric, engaging, and integrated with entertainment, sports, and sports-betting.
- In the spirit of agile development, the Plotvinov brothers learned from Notcoin's viral success that you don't need a perfect product to gain notoriety; they intend to launch ideas quickly and stay adaptable to user feedback, always looking for the next revolution in Telegram's gaming scene.
