The video game industry is in full transformation. Traditional monetization models are crumbling, giving way to new ecosystems worn by technology, creativity and the participation of communities. At the heart of this mutation is found Ultraa pioneer platform that connects web2 and web3 without creating a division. Gus Van Rijckevorsel, CEO of Ultra, shares his vision in an exclusive interview with Cointribne. He talks about the launch of Empiresthe evolutionary role of players and an economy where everyone can become a creator of value. Here's how ultra laid the basics of a finally accessible, practical and durable web3.
In short
- Ultra creates a fluid bridge between web2 and web3, without sacrificing the user experience.
- Players become value producers thanks to AI, digital property and a collaborative economy.
- With Empires and Citadels, Ultra offers an ecosystem where playing, creating and winning are interconnected.
A transition industry: from micro-studios blockbusters
Gus Van Rijckevorsel immediately establishes a parallel between the cinema and video game industries. Large productions several hundred millions of millions coexist today with a boom from micro-studios. Like Danish series on Netflix, small innovative games emerge alongside giants like GTA VI. The mid -range disappears: A game aims either the status of world blockbuster, or bet on agility, targeted quality and rapid deployment.
Ultra is not positioned as the Netflix of Gaming in format, but in its ability to reinvent distribution and creation of value. The objective: to give developers more freedom and to offer players new ways to commit.
Player 3.0: play, watch, create
The player is no longer just a gamer. Today, users play, look at and create content. Each of these activities generates value. Spectators represent an economic pillar via advertising. Content creators take advantage of videos, comments and mods. The player becomes a component of a new trinity that shapes the gaming economy.
This change forces platforms and studios to rethink their models. We can no longer design a game without integrating the creators who enrich it, the spectators who amplify it and the communities that adopt it.
Pure web3 gaming mirage
Pure web3 gaming still does not attract real gamers. As Gus says in the interview : ” If you find a web 3 player, tell him to call me ». The web3 remains obsessed with monetization, while the majority of players are looking for fun, competition or social interaction. Result : A small speculative bubble, self -referencing, without real culture of the game.
Ultra offers a hybrid route. The web3 should not replace the web2, but increase it. It becomes an invisible layer that strengthens experience without disturbing it.
Ultra, Empires & Citadels: the web2/web3 integration model
The interconnection between Ultra, Empires and Citadels embodies this vision. Citadels is an ultra-realistic FPS responding to web2 standards. Its economy is based on a deep web3 layer: Empireswhere players produce resources (ore, weapons, land) then used by citadel players, thus influencing the economy of the web2 game. For its part, ultra orchestrates transactions, takes a commission, and ensures the proper functioning of the whole.
For example: when a citadel player dies and needs new equipment, he buys it via a classic shop in play, but this object was produced by a player of empires.
One plays, the other wins.
A new income distribution model
Traditionally, publishers captured most of the profits. Ultra reverse this logic. Web3 players, as owners or producers of digital assets, can now generate income. This opens the way to a participatory economy where studios no longer control the entire value chain.
Users can create weapons, develop environments or extend gameplay. DevOps becomes collaborative, shared between developers and players. Welcome to the gaming era Open sourcecommunity and economically virtuous.
Artificial intelligence: creative catalyst
In this ecosystem, AI plays a key role. It lowers entry barriers, gives power to non -technical creators and accelerates content production. A player can now create a skin, write a story or build an environment without mastering modeling or code.
According to GUS, AI does not provide solutions, it creates bridges between problems and ideas. Thanks to simple tools, everyone can give life to complex concepts. Combined with the web3, AI becomes a powerful force to democratize creativity.
A cultural and generational evolution
Video games are no longer a niche. Today, a father and his son can play the same game, each in their own way. Of Candy Crush has Counter-Strikeall genres are part of a shared cultural space. This democratization also transforms marketing. Brands can no longer ignore it.
Strategic partnerships, such as those envisaged with Red Bull, illustrate this evolution. By combining emotion, narration and game mechanics, the brands are reaching a wide, committed and multigenic audience. Games become media, target players, and the economy of the game extends to all sectors.
With EmpiresUltra launches more than a game: a new way of conceiving, producing and living gaming. By merging the power of the web2 and the potential of the web3, the platform offers a practical, inclusive and sustainable model. Players are no longer simple participants: they become economic engines. Thanks to AI and a participatory vision, ultra redraws the boundaries of the sector. To be part of this revolution, visit Ultra.iotest Empires And discover what “playing together” means in the era of the decentralized game. You can also follow @Ultra_io on x and listen to the complete interview in French on Spotify,, Deezer,, Apple Podcast,, Amazon Podcast… Or in English automatically subtitled on YouTube.
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