Simplifying Blockchain Gaming: The FIO and SKALE Partnership

The Blockchain Game Alliance (BGA) fosters collaboration among its members to advance the development and adoption of blockchain technologies within the gaming industry. By providing a platform for networking, sharing knowledge, and collaboration, the BGA helps drive innovation and integration in the web3 gaming space. In a recent partnership, BGA members FIO Protocol and SKALE have teamed up to enhance access to web3 gaming, aiming to deliver a seamless player experience. This collaboration leverages their combined expertise and resources, enabling players to enjoy the benefits of blockchain gaming without facing the common barriers to entry.

A great player experience starts with developer solutions that enhance their ability to focus on what matters – developing a fun game. This partnership aims to free the dev’s time spent on infrastructure. The main concept is that the user has no idea they’re using web3 until the game’s designers choose to reveal it. The user signs up with either an email address or phone number, mimicking the web2 experience they’re used to, and non-custodial cloud-based ‘hardware’ wallets are spun on the back end, which holds the user’s game assets. As far as the user experience is concerned, they simply log in to their account and start playing. No manual wallet creation, no seed phrase to manage, yet they own those assets in the true non-custodial “FIO Wallet” powered by Metakeep while paying zero gas fees on the Skale network. 

This partnership was nurtured in part due to a BGA side event hosted for Token 2049 in Singapore. In this digital age, the importance of doing business in person can’t be overstated. Introductory calls online are great, but there’s something special about seeing that excitement in the faces of other builders when the “what if we” ideas are rallied back and forth while overlooking the Singapore skyline. 

Introduction to FIO Protocol

Fragmentation and usability challenges continue to hamper the mainstream adoption of blockchain technology. FIO Protocol, a blockchain-agnostic decentralized solution, aims to address these issues by simplifying and enhancing the usability of blockchain transactions.

Much like how HTTP transformed the web by making it accessible with human-readable addresses instead of IP numbers, FIO introduces the user@domain format instead of long unmemorable public blockchain addresses. This innovation allows users to send and receive digital assets seamlessly, revolutionizing the interaction with blockchain technology.

Addressing Key Challenges

The primary obstacles in blockchain adoption include complex integration processes and developer time, scalability issues, security concerns, and user friction. The partnership between FIO, SKALE, and joint partner Metakeep introduces a hands-on solution that addresses these challenges head-on. Utilizing the “FIO Wallet” powered by Metakeep on the SKALE Network, this trifecta combines three SaaS technologies that any game developer can onboard with competitive, scalable pricing, enabling them to be on-chain in web3 within minutes.

Developers benefit from a streamlined process by using the FIO Wallet on SKALE which handles the heavy lifting on usability and infrastructure, requiring zero developer footprint. One API call is all it takes to integrate web3 functionalities, allowing developers to focus on creating engaging gaming experiences without worrying about R&D or upfront costs for users. The cloud-based, non-custodial wallet with single sign-on ensures zero friction and zero gas fees using the Skale chain, making the transition to web3 seamless and cost-effective.

FIO provides a one-step interface enabling the user to choose their handle, which will be associated with the game domain in the format of user@domain.  In the example below, the user enters a handle to be registered at the customized domain of the developer’s choosing (typically the name of the game).  Example below: handle@customised domain (in this example, Hyperion), enabling developers to unify their community through a single sign-in identity.
Behind the scenes, this ID generates non-custodial cloud wallets on EVM, SVM, and EOS-compatible blockchains that are mapped to the user’s FIO handle. The user can now use their FIO address to send and receive assets from any of the wallets created with zero friction. Working with Skale, EVM compatible, enables developers to use Skale as their blockchain.

Not only does this enable game developers to enable an easy-to-use login that removes the complexities of wallets, chains, and cryptocurrencies from the players, but due to Skale’s SaaS model, users pay zero gas, thus providing the perfect solution for web3 onboarding while promoting that game’s IP with their branded domain name. The beauty of the FIO Wallet is that developers can customize every aspect of the process, integrating it seamlessly into the user journey, allowing players to enjoy the gaming experience while making their user ID ready to leverage web3 capabilities. 

Front End Demo: https://demo.metakeep.xyz/partners/fio/index.html 

The Power of Partnership with SKALE Network

Partnering with SKALE Network, FIO Protocol leverages SKALE’s high-performance infrastructure to deliver an unparalleled user experience. SKALE’s unique advantages, including zero gas fees and instant finality, create an optimal environment for fast and cost-effective transactions. This partnership focuses on the FIO Wallet, a cloud-based back-end solution that allows game developers to create the user experience they envision. Game developers can design their UI/UX without the need for users to install a wallet, manage a seed phrase, or even understand what a wallet is. Users simply sign in and start gaming on web3’s fastest network. This flexibility and simplicity are key to driving adoption and making blockchain technology accessible to a broader audience.

Wayne Marcel, Head of Growth at FIO Protocol, states: “FIO has always led with the vision of improving usability in the web3 ecosystem at the wallet layer. Our partnership with Metakeep to bring the FIO Wallet to the SKALE ecosystem is the perfect partnership of a simple and easy-to-use experience where users can benefit from web3 applications with the simplicity and speed they are familiar with in the web2 world.”

Envisioning the Future

This collaboration between FIO, SKALE, and Metakeep marks a significant step towards a more user-friendly and integrated blockchain ecosystem. By combining FIO’s innovative solutions with SKALE’s high-performance infrastructure, both current and future projects will benefit from enhanced usability and accessibility. Game developers, in particular, will find it easier to integrate blockchain technology into their platforms without compromising on user experience.

Jack O’Holleran, CEO of SKALE Network, adds: “The integration of FIO’s user-friendly solutions with SKALE’s high-performance infrastructure sets a new standard for blockchain accessibility. This partnership is a game-changer for developers and users alike, enabling seamless interaction with blockchain technology.”

Conclusion

The partnership between FIO Protocol and SKALE Network is poised to revolutionize blockchain gaming development by reducing costs, eliminating friction, and empowering projects with usability to create a user-friendly experience for gamers worldwide.

For more information, visit the FIO Protocol and SKALE partnership announcement on the FIO Website. Stay tuned for more updates and insights into this exciting journey towards a more integrated blockchain future.