PlaysOut said it will bring thousands of Web3 minigames to Telegram as part of a strategic partnership with TON Play, a gaming platform that enables Web3 minigames on Telegram.

The goal is to release a beta version of the platform in December and then achieve full market launch in the first quarter of 2025.

PlaysOut has also partnered with STON.fi, a cross-chain decentralized exchange (DEX) with its own security protocol on the TON blockchain. And London-based PlaysOut also recently made its integration announcement with Tencent.

These collaborations aim to improve user engagement and interaction within the TON ecosystem by introducing a comprehensive games library to Telegram, whose blockchain-friendly messaging service has more than 900 million users.

In addition, PlaysOut aims to facilitate the transition of user transactions from Web2 to Web3, leveraging the unique strengths of all parties involved.

By partnering with TON Play, PlaysOut will integrate its advanced SDK and extensive library of mini-games into Telegram’s TON Play environment, bringing thousands of mini-casual games to the platform and enhancing the overall gaming experience on Telegram’s PlayDeck.

PlaysOut technology

The company has a full-stack mini gaming container technology. This includes a set of components optimized for game development and operation, including JavaScript frameworks, JavaScript Virtual Machines (JSVM), sandboxing mechanisms, resource management controls, support for popular game engines, and compatibility with native implementations and OpenGL, among others.

In addition to the mini-game container technology, PlaysOut provides a set of tools for integrating multi-terminal SDKs, IDE integrated development tools, cloud service operation management platforms and advertising platforms.

And it has Web3 integration technology. PlaysOut seamlessly integrates its technology with Web3, enabling features such as Web3 wallet login, payment systems, contract deployment, staking, NFT support, voting, decentralized governance, and more.

Big plans

The initiative aims to drive user acquisition, improve data capabilities and increase traffic engagement, thereby strengthening the appeal and user base of TON Play’s gaming ecosystem.

With 900 million monthly active users, Telegram is one of the largest distribution channels for Web3-near users. Telegram touts its security and privacy and has become the fifth largest and second fastest growing messaging app, making it a leading platform for the crypto community.

Every user outside the US will receive an abstracted crypto wallet upon registration, making the TON ecosystem a key player in the mass adoption of Web3.

“We are very excited to partner with PlaysOut to enhance the gaming experience in the TON ecosystem,” said Daria Novikova, Product Evangelist at TON Play, in a statement. “This integration will allow us to offer a more diverse range of games and improve our technical infrastructure to provide a seamless and enjoyable experience for our users. By leveraging PlaysOut’s expertise, we aim to push the boundaries of what is possible in the Web3 gaming space and deliver innovative and rewarding experiences that resonate with our global community.”

Tencent and WeChat

PlaysOut will facilitate the integration of thousands of games, mostly from Chinese developers, that have already released on WeChat’s mini-games platform, directly into Telegram via TON Play. The success of WeChat’s game integration, which greatly increased both user engagement and monetization, highlights the potential of adopting similar strategies.

By partnering with Tencent, PlaysOut aims to replicate this success by integrating thousands of developer games from WeChat’s mini-game environment into Telegram via TON Play.

This approach is designed to open up new monetization opportunities and improve user engagement on a seamlessly integrated platform, with a focus on expanding Telegram’s ability to retain users and increase app usage by linking it with additional services, including wallet functionality and decentralized exchange options like STON.fi.

Although WeChat remains primarily a social app with lifestyle services and games as side features, it serves as a prime example of how the use of games can drive user engagement and create new revenue streams on a highly integrated platform.

The partnership between PlaysOut, TON Play and STON.fi aims to integrate games into the Telegram platform and provide a seamless user experience with integrated tools that enable an effortless transition into the Web3 space.

STON.fi’s decentralized exchange (DEX) services will be integrated into the PlaysOut application, improving financial transactions for players within the TON ecosystem. STON.fi addresses critical DeFi challenges including interoperability, security, risk management, and transaction costs.

“Our partnership with PlaysOut is a crucial step in expanding the reach and functionality of the TON ecosystem,” said Martin Masser, Chief Business Development Officer (CBDO) of STON.fi.

By integrating STON.fi’s services into PlaysOut’s Web3 games on Telegram, users will be able to manage and execute asset transactions directly in the app, including instantly exchanging TON and stablecoins for a variety of native tokens at competitive rates.

Masser said: “By integrating our decentralized exchange services into PlaysOut’s Web3 games on Telegram, we’re not just improving the gaming experience – we’re simplifying the entire transaction process. This collaboration will make it easier than ever for users to seamlessly manage and exchange digital assets, leading to greater engagement and adoption across the platform.”

This integration provides a user-friendly solution that simplifies digital asset management and provides users with convenience and full control. It will streamline financial transactions, improve the overall user experience and drive greater engagement by making it easier to buy, sell and trade digital assets within the platform, Masser said.

PlaysOut will continue to develop and maintain its SDK and application, and use STON.fi services to ensure seamless integration with TON Play to facilitate the transition of games from a Web2 to a Web3 environment. TON Play and STON.fi will provide key technical support to increase user awareness and adoption, and ensure the reliability and security of their services for games and user interactions within the Telegram ecosystem.

PlaysOut’s strategy in entering the Telegram ecosystem is to offer a library of high-performing games to the TON Play ecosystem, support the development of Web2 games, and convert them into Web3-based standalone games based on performance metrics.

This collaboration will improve user data insights and improve understanding of player preferences and game recommendations across Telegram traffic. Participating in events and challenges will unlock special in-game rewards, platform rewards, and characters, fostering a sense of community and engagement.

“Our integrations into the Telegram environment will revolutionize the global minigame landscape by facilitating the transition from Web2 to Web3 and encouraging the adoption of diverse game titles,” said Jassem Osseiran, founder of PlaysOut, in a statement. “By addressing key pain points for developers and studios, our collaboration simplifies the process and creates an engaging and fun experience for users.”

Acquiring users is just the beginning; retaining them requires a steady stream of new content, especially in the fast-moving attention economy of Web3. With its huge user base, low development costs and frictionless environment, Telegram/TON is poised to become a crucial channel for Web3 games looking to bring new users on board, Osseiran said.

Osseiran added that while comparisons to early WeChat mini-apps are inevitable, Telegram’s unique features and the introduction of TON make it a standout platform for transitioning Web2 users to Web3. As developer tools and support evolve, games will adapt seamlessly to a Telegram-native approach, allowing users to interact with built-in features without even realizing they’ve entered the Web3 space.

PlaysOut investors include Kenetic Capital, Chainer Consultants, Kestrel, VentureSouq DA Collective, Yugana Labs, Meituxiuxiu (Wensheng çaí), 4399 Games, Sentor Investments, Moziak Capital, and individuals such as Mable Jiang. The company has raised $5 million at a $70 million valuation.

PlaysOut is currently in talks with over 50 casual game developers in the Chinese market and has reached preliminary agreements with several of them, some of whom have signed exclusive contracts.

Notable collaborating developers include: 4399, China’s leading web gaming platform with over a million casual games in its library. Other developers include 37 Interactive Entertainment and Xiamen-G-bits Network and others.