The Migration to TON: What does it mean for Web3 Games?
Until now, games have been able to build mini-games on Telegram, tapping into the 900 million users on the platform while building on the chain of their choice. This is set to change as Telegram announces that mini apps, including games, will now be built exclusively on TON. With the ball in motion, the migration is underway, and games must migrate by 21 February 2025.
What does this mean for games currently developing telegram mini-games?
With over 900 million active users, Telegram provides a direct gateway for Web3 games to onboard mainstream players. Until now, developers of mini-apps previously could integrate functionality from other blockchains into their applications. For example, a clicker game could require connecting an ETH wallet and distribute tokens issued on Ethereum.
Firstly, it means that games must use TON (Telegram Open Network) to develop games that are accessible on Telegram. All Telegram mini-app developers must use TON Connect to connect to Web3 wallets. TON Connect is the native protocol for TON.
In addition, they will have to implement TON as a payment tool: TON will be the exclusive currency for paying for Telegram chat services, including Telegram Premium, Telegram Stars, and Telegram Ads. It also means that new apps can only issue assets and NFTs on the TON chain. Bots connected to mini-apps must use the TON network.
Traditional Web3 gaming ecosystems often require external wallets and complex onboarding. TON simplifies this with embedded wallets and frictionless user onboarding, making blockchain gaming more accessible to casual players. While this could mean a more user-friendly Web3 experience, it significantly restricts developers from building a broader gaming ecosystem outside of TON and limits games to the possibilities and limitations of what is possible with the app. Or that the wider ecosystem cannot benefit from the capabilities of other blockchains to create synergy across products.
Implications for web3 Games
Limited Developer Ecosystem & Tooling: Compared to Ethereum, Polygon, or Avalanche, TON’s developer ecosystem is still in its early stages. The number of developer tools, SDKs, and documentation available for game development is relatively small, making it harder for studios to build and scale complex Web3 games.
Learning Curve & Compatibility Issues: Many Web3 games are already built on EVM-compatible chains like Ethereum and its Layer 2s. TON uses its unique architecture and smart contract language (FunC), meaning developers may need to rebuild or significantly modify their games rather than simply migrating them.
Uncertain Regulatory Landscape: Telegram and TON have faced regulatory scrutiny in the past. While TON has gained traction, its legal standing in different jurisdictions remains uncertain. Web3 gaming projects that rely on token economies or NFTs may face risks if governments impose new regulations on TON or Telegram-based crypto transactions.
Centralization Concerns: Although TON is a decentralized blockchain, it is strongly connected to Telegram, a private company that could influence the network’s direction. If Telegram changes its strategy or limits integrations, it could negatively impact the games relying on TON for their user base.
Competition from Established Gaming Chains: TON is entering a space already dominated by Immutable, Avalanche, Solana, and Polygon, which have well-established gaming infrastructures, partnerships, and funding ecosystems. Developers migrating to TON might find it challenging to attract funding, partnerships, and users compared to these more mature ecosystems.
User Experience & Monetization Uncertainties: While TON’s integration with Telegram makes onboarding easier, it also presents challenges in user monetization and retention:
- Monetization models (NFTs, play-to-earn, etc.) need adaptation to TON’s unique ecosystem.
- Revenue-sharing with Telegram? Since Telegram profits from its premium services, it’s unclear if game developers will face monetization restrictions or revenue-sharing requirements in the future.
Network Maturity & Security Risks: TON is still relatively new compared to Ethereum or Solana, meaning:
- Fewer audits and security testing for smart contracts.
- Potential for undiscovered vulnerabilities in the network.
- Lower validator decentralization could lead to security risks or censorship concerns.
According to the Cryptopolitan on Binance Square, “TON carries $266.12M in liquidity, with an additional $1.41B in native USDT and a smaller amount of bridged tokens. The TON chain remains niche compared to others like Ethereum or Solana but still carries its own ecosystem of gaming tokens, memes, and NFT.”
Daniel Tamas, CEO and Co-founder of WAM commented:
“It has been proven that restricting developers, especially in web3, has a counter effect. Right now, there are zero or very few bridges that work with TON. Most projects that launched before on other chains now see another tech that has to be tackled and causes a lot of friction. Besides this, providing the necessary liquidity for a new pool on a new chain where you do not have the community or the chain’s support will not go well with devs, especially when options exist. This increases misaligned incentives and denotes a centralized approach.”
Thomas Chauveau, COO at MetaFight also shared his perspective:
“Telegram is currently a major acquisition tool—we even believe it will be the most powerful in the market by 2025. The TON blockchain is expanding every week and is set for a bright future once it becomes more accessible and EVM bridges are available.“
App developers are expected to switch to TON Connect by 21 February, as the TON Foundation urges them to start the process immediately. The apps that manage to migrate within Telegram’s deadline will receive perks and support from the TON Foundation. Developers can also apply for up to $50,000 advertising credits to spread their influence on Telegram.
Conclusion: Weighing the Pros & Cons
“Telegram offers Web3 developers access to more than 900 million potential gamers and, above all, an ecosystem for monetization, marketing, onboarding, partnerships and more. This will accelerate the democratization of the web3 gaming universe.” remarked David Lankri, Partnership Manager at Shockwaves.
Migrating to TON may have some obvious benefits, including access to a vast user base and ease of onboarding. However, projects will need to carefully evaluate whether TON’s ecosystem is mature enough to support large-scale Web3 games in the long run.
Regulatory risks, tooling limitations, and network security remain key concerns that could impact the success of gaming projects on TON. There are a number of questions that remain uncertain: Does this help with fragmentation, and could this be a good thing? Will this encourage interoperability solutions? Time will tell how the ecosystem evolves and whether it has a positive impact on the games and onboarding mainstream users into web3 games via Telegram’s social platform. For games that opt out, it will be interesting to observe innovative ways in which they will acquire users and grow the ecosystem around their decentralized game, retaining the autonomy of multi-chain, wallet, and broad base of potential players.
Sources:
https://www.binance.com/en/square/post/19248630315705
https://x.com/MetaLamp_Web3/status/1882693012129538147
https://www.theblock.co/post/339563/telegram-games-had-trouble-earning-revenue-retaining-users-in-q4-report
