Creator-Led Web3 Gaming Experiences Boom at YGG Play Summit 2025

Highlights from the YGG Play Summit 2025 in Manila

The YGG Play Summit 2025, hosted in Manila, solidified its status as a major gathering for the web3 gaming community. The event’s centerpiece was the Vibes Asian Championship, featuring Orange Cap Games’ Pudgy Penguins trading card game (TCG). Filipino competitor John Fitzgerald "Oxtraxex" Poculan claimed victory after a thrilling two-day contest, besting fellow guild member Jerald Jay "Asamax" Pamiloza in a final that attracted widespread attention from the international gaming scene.

With a prize pool of $20,000 and 77 contenders, this tournament marked the inaugural Asian championship for Vibes—a TCG crafted to be approachable for beginners while offering strategic complexity for experienced players. Oxtraxex, who traveled from Zamboanga Sibugay for his first in-person TCG event, noted the game’s surging popularity among Filipino enthusiasts, many of whom had already established rivalries through online and local competitions.

The championship adopted a Swiss+1 format, allowing participants to progress to a single-elimination bracket after the opening day. To promote fairness, players could use up to 12 proxy cards as substitutes for rare or costly originals, ensuring a level playing field. The tournament’s success highlighted the growing enthusiasm for TCGs in Asia, especially in the Philippines, where YGG Pilipinas has cultivated a dynamic gaming community. By winning, Oxtraxex secured a place in the Vibes 2025 World Championship, which will take place in Portland, Oregon, in January 2026.

Industry Trends and Creator Influence

Beyond the TCG competition, the summit reflected broader shifts in the gaming industry. Drawing over 5,600 attendees in person and generating 490 million online impressions worldwide, the event underscored the pivotal role of content creators in advancing web3 gaming. According to the Interactive Advertising Bureau, creator-led advertising reached $37 billion in 2025, surpassing the overall growth rate of the media sector.

Panels and workshops, including the LOL Lounge’s live session and WolvesDAO’s creator strategy discussion, emphasized the significance of authenticity and lasting partnerships for building sustainable careers. Influencers like Cagyjan, who was named 2025 Creator of the Year, demonstrated how early supporters of web3 gaming have evolved into industry frontrunners.

Celebrating Excellence and Fostering Innovation

The summit also honored outstanding achievements with the GAM3 Awards, where Gunzilla Games’ Off The Grid claimed five accolades, including Game of the Year. This accomplishment, partly due to collaborations with mainstream gaming personalities such as Ninja and Shroud, showcased the potential for blockchain games to reach wider audiences. Meanwhile, Metaversity’s educational programs, like the Base-sponsored "Prompt to Prototype" workshop, highlighted the sector’s commitment to equipping creators and developers with the skills needed for emerging technologies.

Looking Ahead

As web3 gaming continues to connect niche communities with the mainstream, gatherings like the YGG Play Summit highlight the industry’s drive for innovation and community building. With the 2025 World Championship and the next summit already in the pipeline, the future promises further expansion in competitive gaming, creator-driven content, and cross-sector partnerships.