TL;DR
- Ronin announces a major PvPvE gameplay test for Q1 2026.
- An endgame-first design philosophy aims for long-term player retention.
- The strategy merges Web2 accessibility with genuine Web3 asset ownership.
Ronin held a packed Happy Hour session at the YGG Play Summit, featuring Jeffrey “Jihoz” Zirlin and creator Cagy fresh from winning Content Creator of the Year at the GAM3 Awards. The talk followed a strong week for Ronin, after the platform earned Best Ecosystem and Axie Infinity: Atia’s Legacy took Most Anticipated Game. Speakers used the stage to outline design priorities and upcoming tests for the game.
Playtest plans, endgame-first design and economic risk
Jihoz said the team will run a major gameplay test in Q1 2026 centered on a new loop that blends PvP and PvE. He described coordinated dungeon drops where squads fight in the map center and the last team standing wins. The team plans to trial permanent consequences such as gear loss and vessel destruction, arguing that real risk sharpens player decisions and activates markets.
Cagy argued that developers must merge lessons from Web2 and Web3 to reach broader audiences. He encouraged building titles that attract mainstream players while preserving genuine ownership features for crypto-native users. Jihoz echoed the point and stressed that the game must stand on its own merit for non-crypto players to engage.
Both speakers described an endgame-first approach. Jihoz explained that the team starts development from high-level PvP systems and works backward to early-stage content. He referenced classic hits where robust endgame systems sustained long-term activity and market depth. The goal is to secure durable player retention through compelling high-level competition.
The session also covered hands-on tuning. Jihoz said Sky Mavis co-founder Trung Nguyen intervened directly when movement felt off during internal tests. The team adjusted controls and animation to improve responsiveness and player feel, reflecting a development culture that iterates quickly on core mechanics.
Speakers framed destruction as an economic lever. Cagy suggested that risking real NFTs in combat adds weight to outcomes. Jihoz added that kill mechanics and permanent losses create supply shocks and breeding incentives, which in turn stimulate secondary markets for items and characters.
The live segment included a demo of the in-game shop, gold upgrade flows, and a boss encounter. Organizers invited creators on stage, including LATAM influencer Muke and members of the Fishing Frenzy project, to trial the current build and demonstrate community engagement.
Before closing, Jihoz tied the week’s awards back to ongoing innovation on Ronin. He credited multiple projects for introducing distinct value models — play-to-earn, play-to-airdrop, risk-to-earn, and proof-of-distribution — and argued that those varied approaches combine to deliver crypto utility to players worldwide. He concluded with a short, optimistic line about Axie’s next chapter.
