Play-2-Earn Expo’s Thrilling Debut in Bangkok and Metaverse

Known as Asia’s Biggest Play-2-Earn Expo, Play-2-Earn Hybrid Expo Asia finally culminated last August 10 – 13 in W Bangkok and Metaverse. The 4-Day event was the first of its kind to focus specifically on the Play-2-Earn industry only.

Its guest list comprised over 260 physical and 300 virtual C-suite attendees. This included Jason Brink from Gala Games; Rich Robinson from Animoca; Andy Koh from GEMS Esports 3.0 Platform; Tatsuya Kohrogi from Digital Entertainment Asset (PlayMining); Irene Umar from YGG SEA; and Cholo Maputol from Play It Forward DAO.

Day 1: Welcome Drinks and Snacks at The House on Sathorn

Welcoming Play-2-Earn’s biggest names from all over the world, Day 1 for Play-2-Earn Hybrid Expo Asia kicked off with welcome drinks and snacks in the House on Sathorn, a multi-entertainment venue adjacent to W Bangkok.

The driveway leading up to the entrance had rows of banners of P2E’s valued sponsors, including Gala Games, ByBit, Ethlas, and Playgroundzero.io. By the DJ booth, there were also light-up cubes with P2E sponsor logos.

All guests had access to a wide spread of food and an open bar, which quickly livened up the evening. A short program featured the official launch of the event, a special performance from traditional Thailand dancers, and a quick rundown of the Play-2-Earn Expo team.

The night was also a chance for guests to start building their bridges within the industry. Many networked and made friends, some of whom were meeting for the first time.

Day 2 and 3: Keynotes, Panels, Networking, Game Pitches, and After Parties

The next two days for Play-2-Earn Hybrid Expo Asia had a packed schedule, beginning with special keynotes from Jason Brink of Gala Games (“The Web 5.0 Future of Play and Earn Gaming”) and Andy Koh of GEMS Esports 3.0 Platform (“Riding on the Wave of Blockchain and Web3”) for Days 2 and 3 respectively.

Other keynotes included “Limitless Possibilities and Opportunities in the Metaverse” by Joseph Leong of Morfyus League; “It’s a Play, Not a Game” by Sarah Buxton of Gala Music; and “Gamefi’s Ultimate Value” by Tatsuya Kohrogi of Digital Entertainment Asset (PlayMining).

August 11th and 12th also featured back-to-back panel discussions from esteemed guests such as Corey Wilton of Pegaxy, Paul Kim of Com2Us, Adrian Ho of Binance, The Bitcoin Man and more. Never losing sight of its hybrid set-up, some of Play-2-Earn Expo’s panelists participated virtually, such as Anastasia Drinevskaya of Cointelegraph and Charles Huh of WeMade.

While the keynotes and panel discussions went on, guests had access to a tea time snack and drink area outside the main hall. Across this hallway were numerous Play-2-Earn booths, some promoting through activity—from VR experiences to game beta testing.

On the hybrid side, business matching portals were set up for all attendees. Through the official P2E app, guests can schedule meetings with each other, meeting up physically through P2E’s Meeting Rooms or online. Virtual booths were also live during the expo, ensuring that attendees around the world can not only watch, but also participate in Play-2-Earn Hybrid Expo Asia.

Game Pitch Competition

Another highlight of the expo was its game pitch competition, where 8 nominees—shortlisted from hundreds of applicants—were given a chance to pitch to an impressive lineup of judges from DFG/Jsquare, Faculty Group, Openspace ventures, SeaX Ventures, and YGG SEA.

Each game had 15 minutes to present their pitches, with 5 minutes reserved for question and answer. This was easily one of the most sought-out parts of the expo, bringing to light the up-and-coming talent of the Play-2-Earn industry.

Osbiome took home the trophy through their Omeverse pitch, which is the first health-to-earn metaverse for personalised health. Omeverse users will have their own Web3 Digital Pets that will guide them on their future health journeys.

Play Hard, Party Harder

Back-to-back after parties were scheduled for Days 2 and 3, with the GameFi community gathering at Woo Bar and the Wet Deck respectively. DJs Nicole Chen, Celeste Chen, and Bombshell Amy Kao led the night to a state of pure hype and energy, invigorating the #P2EExpo spirit in Bangkok.

Moreover, both parties had an open bar, served a mix of international and local cuisine, and were still conducive to networking. The Day 3 afterparty at the Wet Deck was top notch, with special drumming and dancing performances as well as special appearances from mermaids.

Day 4: GEMS Esports 3.0 Mobile Gaming Tournament

Thirty-two teams and a total of 120 PUBG players competed for a $50,000 THB prize pool on the last day of Play-2-Earn Hybrid Expo Asia. Known as the GEMS Thailand PUBG Mobile Tournament, Platinum Sponsor and Strategic Partner, GEMS Esports 3.0 Platform took over operations for Day 4, held in the main expo hall.

Team ChaPoKit was hailed as the overall champion of the 9-hour long tournament. Bacon Times and E29 Esports Gaming placed second and third place, respectively.

The night was capped off with yet another After Party, this time hosted by GEMS Esports 3.0 Platform for sponsors and invited guests.

What’s Next for Asia’s Largest Play-2-Earn Expo?

Play-2-Earn Hybrid Expo Asia, the first of its kind business-to-business event in Asia, is looking to host a subsequent expo in Bali, Indonesia during the first quarter of 2023. Like Bangkok, Bali is known worldwide as a breeding ground of talent for the Web 3.0 and blockchain industry.

This will most likely come to fruition as the P2E audience is ready to fly in from around the world to experience the charm and potential of P2E once again.