For most of gaming history, the idea of earning real value from the hours spent battling monsters, farming loot, or grinding through quests sounded like a fantasy. Games were worlds we escaped into, not economies we participated in. But in 2020, something unusual began to take shape an experiment that would blur the line between a guild of gamers and a decentralized venture fund. That experiment became Yield Guild Games, better known today simply as YGG.
What started as a simple idea a community-owned guild that invests in play-to-earn games has since grown into one of the most influential organizations in the Web3 gaming ecosystem.
A New Kind of Guild in a New Kind of World
The vision behind YGG was surprisingly straightforward:
If blockchain games allow players to earn crypto and NFTs with tangible value, why not create a guild that helps players access these opportunities?
In traditional MMORPGs, guilds form for teamwork, friendship, and efficiency.
In Web3, those goals remain but the incentives are different. NFTs, tokens, and digital property turn a hobby into an economy.
YGG positioned itself as the bridge between players and this new digital economy by:
Investing in promising blockchain games
Acquiring NFTs, characters, and digital land
Lending these assets to players who can use them to earn rewards
Sharing earnings between players, the community, and the DAO
It was a win-win system: players without upfront capital could still participate, while the guild could grow its income and influence alongside them
The Rise During the Play-to-Earn Boom
YGG became widely known during the explosive rise of Axie Infinity. At the time, buying a full team of Axies was expensive for many new players especially in countries like the Philippines, where the game became a cultural phenomenon.
YGG stepped in with an approach they called Scholarships:
1. The guild bought large quantities of Axies.
2. They loaned them to players (scholars).
3. Scholars played and earned rewards
4. The income was shared between the player and the guild
This model spread like wildfire. For many, it was the first time a game allowed them to pay bills or support their families. Communities grew, Discords boomed, and YGG became synonymous with the future of gaming
Growing Beyond Axie: The YGG Network Expands
But the founders knew one game couldn’t carry the future of the guild.
So YGG evolved.
Today, the guild is a global network of sub-DAOs and partner guilds, each focused on different regions and game ecosystems. These include:
YGG SEA – serving Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam
YGG Japan – connecting the Japanese gaming community to Web3
IndiGG – supporting India’s massive gaming population
Ola GG – reaching Spanish-speaking countries and Latin America
This decentralized structure allows each region to customize how they onboard players, train them, and build local identity all while being part of the larger YGG ecosystem.
The Evolution of Play-to-Earn: What YGG Learned
The early P2E boom didn’t last forever. As token inflation hit many games, play-to-earn mechanics struggled, and earnings dropped across the board. It was a turbulent period, but also an instructive one.
YGG shifted its strategy in several meaningful ways:
1. From “play-to-earn” to “play-and-earn”
Focus moved from extraction to enjoyment plus economics.
Games needed to be fun first, sustainable second.
2. Supporting high-quality Web3 titles
Instead of farming rewards, YGG now invests in projects with real gameplay depth titles like Illuvium, Guild of Guardians, Big Time, and more.
3. Building skills, not just income
YGG’s player programs evolved toward training, esports, strategy guides, and content creation. The guild became a place to grow as a gamer not just a place to earn tokens.
4. Reinforcing community governance
As a DAO, YGG continues to push toward transparency, community proposals, and distributed leadership.
The era of mindless grinding is over. What remains is a more resilient, more mature Web3 gaming ecosystem and YGG is still deeply embedded in it
What Makes YGG Stand Out Today
Even with countless guilds and DAOs appearing over the years, YGG is still unique for a few reasons
1. It’s community-first
Players aren’t just “users” they’re members.
People come for earnings opportunities, yes, but many stay for the camaraderie, tournaments, coaching, and events.
2. It’s a long-term investor
YGG isn’t chasing hype cycles.
They invest early, support developers, and help games grow their player bases.
3. It’s truly global
Instead of centralizing everything, they built a network of local guilds with cultural understanding and regional leadership.
4. They actively shape the future of Web3 gaming
With connections to VCs, game studios, and major blockchain networks, YGG isn’t just participating in the ecosystemit’s influencing it.
Why YGG Still Matters in 2025 and Beyond
Some people wonder whether Web3 gaming was a passing trend.
But the reality is that digital ownership is becoming a core part of modern gaming and YGG sits at the intersection of this shift.
As games adopt:
Player-owned economies
Tradeable assets
Tokenized rewards
Decentralized social structures
Cross-game identities
…the need for guilds like YGG only grows.
Gamers want community.
They want opportunities.
They want ownership.
YGG offers all three.
Conclusion: A Guild for the Next Generation of Gaming
Yield Guild Games began as a bold experiment a community investing in itself, using new technology to unlock new possibilities. And while the Web3 landscape continues to evolve, one thing is clear:
YGG is not just a guild.
It’s a blueprint.
A blueprint for how players can collaborate, build, and thrive in virtual worlds that finally give something back.
The story of YGG is still being written, but if the last few years are any indication, it’s going to be one of the defining forces shaping the future of gaming.
