Dennis
2026-05-11
Block by Block Ep. 9 – Why Blockchain Gaming Fails (at Economy Design)
Block by Block podcast episode with Chase Sommer.
Most blockchain games fail before they even launch, not because of tech limitations, but because they're trying to build functioning economies without understanding game design fundamentals. Chase Sommer, who's building at the intersection of MMO development and blockchain, breaks down why the industry keeps getting it wrong and what it would take to actually get it right.
What We Cover: - Why combining MMOs, blockchain, and economy design is "hard mode" for game development - The fundamental flaw in pay-to-play tokenomics and why it attracts farmers instead of gamers - How player-to-player economies differ from pay-to-win models (and why it matters) - Token sink mechanisms: item destruction, soul-binding, and repair costs as economic design - Why grassroots teams might succeed where VC-funded studios are failing - How AI is enabling solo developers to build games that previously required full studios - The onboarding problem: why embedded wallets and abstracted tech are non-negotiable - What a breakthrough hit would actually look like (hint: it has to be good without crypto)
Chase brings a rare perspective—web2 game dev experience meets web3 experimentation—cutting through the hype to focus on what actually works. If you're building in gaming, working on virtual economies, or just tired of hearing about the next overfunded game that goes nowhere, this one's for you.
Guest: Chase Sommer (@SommerChase)
Host: Dennis Verstappen (@ape_rture)
Podcast: Block by Block | The Neighborhood by Indexing Co