POWER LEADER: Vlad Panchenko on Unleashing Gaming's Potential with Mythical Games

As someone whose only experience with gaming was Nintendo 64 prior to becoming the mother of an avid gamer, it’s safe to say the entire landscape is different. I have found a new love of gaming and appreciate learning about everything from decentralized gaming to AI’s impact on the industry.

Next up in our POWER LEADER series is Vlad Panchenko, SVP at Mythical Games and Founder of DMarket.com. Panchenko is a pioneer in the future of gaming and a trusted expert in his field.

SE: What innovations are you bringing to your industry? What sets you apart from your competitors?

VP: DMarket has always been a pioneer in envisioning a decentralized gaming future, tirelessly working to improve gaming experiences for players worldwide. Not that long ago we were acquired by Mythical Games, an awesome next-gen gaming studio. As a part of Mythical, we're building a future for the creative economy and sharing the same vision on how it will bring even more fun to gamers all around the world. The vision, smart strategies, clear goals, and the hard work of our incredible team truly set us apart from the rest.

SE: What is a recent win or announcement your company just celebrated? Why does it matter?

VP: One of the most recent exciting announcements is the launch of NFL Rivals, the first blockchain-based game in collaboration with the National Football League (NFL) and NFLPA. Right after the launch NFL Rivals reached #1 in the Action Category and #3 overall in games.

The reason NFL Rivals has been such a success is simple, yet the majority of Web3 seems to be ignoring it.

To build a great Web3 game, you have to build a great GAME first. Fun comes before functionality. This is a watershed moment for the Web3 gaming and we're just getting started

Also, I believe that Mythical and NFL partnership will push the boundaries and pave the way for more sports and gaming collaborations.

As we continue to innovate and expand, we at Mythical are excited to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of gaming.

Another announcement I'm proud of is the acquisition of the DMarket. It went live in January 2023. As part of Mythical, we also launched the Mythical Marketplace, powered by DMarket technology. This acquisition and partnership have resulted in an amazing exit and a fantastic outcome, opening up new opportunities for growth. What excites me the most is that these efforts are giving us the privilege to introduce a whole new world to the gaming community. As an avid gamer myself, I eagerly anticipate experiencing everything that we are building at Mythical.

SE: **What pain point(s) does your company solve? \ VP: Mythical Games tackles pain points in the gaming industry by creating an inclusive ecosystem that empowers various stakeholders in creator-focused game economies. The Mythical Platform simplifies decentralized integration for existing and new game designs, handling digital asset trades, payments, user management, and inventory management in a transparent and secure environment.

Mythical Marketplace enhances the gaming experience with seamless integration, fraud protection, fee optimization, asset bundling, and pricing recommendations. Mythical partners also access proprietary intelligence and tools for easy and safe digital asset transactions. By addressing these pain points, Mythical Games paves the way for an inclusive and rewarding gaming experience for all stakeholders.

SE: What are your company’s industry major challenges right now?

VP: With an impressive 86% of global internet users engaged in gaming and 3.4 billion people playing worldwide, the emergence of the Web3 and AI era presents a new challenge: seamlessly introducing all these gamers to the new opportunities that these technologies offer.

As I mentioned previously, we recently launched the Mythical Marketplace beta to address this challenge, during which we welcomed 150,000 players. On one day alone, the broader Mythical economy experienced $1.6 million worth of NFT sales. Our goal is to continue expanding, aiming to reach 10 million players in 2023.

SE: What stories aren’t currently being told about your industry that your audience should know?

VP: Lately, we've heard about Sony dipping its toes into NFTs by filing for a patent that would make non-fungible tokens transferable between different games and consoles. I believe that we will soon hear more stories like this from the giants of the gaming industry.

As these companies embrace the potential of NFTs, it will pave the way for innovative in-game assets and experiences, revolutionizing the gaming landscape. This development will impact both B2C and B2B gaming communities, fostering collaboration and opening up new possibilities for partnerships within the industry.

SE: How do you envision your business changing in the next 3-5 years?

VP: The industry will be completely different and AI will play a significant part in that. AI & Gaming it’s a match made in digital heaven. The fusion of AI and gaming is not only inevitable but is already unfolding before our eyes. Very soon the AI will completely revolutionize the gaming experience. And here are my ideas on that: \

• Enhanced NPC Interactions: GPT-4's advanced AI enables NPCs to become more intelligent and responsive, paving the way for deeper, immersive experiences.
• Procedural Storytelling: Dynamic plot generation allows games to evolve based on player choices, offering limitless possibilities.
• Creative Game Design: GPT-4 assists developers in brainstorming innovative concepts and mechanics, pushing boundaries and redefining game genres.
• Adaptive Tutorials: AI-driven tutorials cater to individual learning styles, ensuring smooth onboarding for every player.
• Real-time Localization: Instant translation of game assets enables quicker, more accurate localization, broadening global access.
• Personalized Gameplay: AI algorithms can analyze player behavior and preferences to tailor gameplay, making each experience uniquely enjoyable and engaging.
• Predictive Analytics: Machine learning models can examine player data to anticipate their next moves and preferences, allowing for improved game design and targeted marketing efforts.
• Improved Game Balancing: AI can help fine-tune game mechanics and difficulty levels, ensuring that games remain challenging yet fun for players.

SE: What changes do you think are necessary for your industry to stay competitive in current economic times?

VP: The gaming industry is at the forefront of an exciting new era, akin to the onset of the next industrial revolution. This transformative period brings with it the potential for significant positive change, much like the invention of electricity did in the past. As we embrace innovation and technological advancements like AI and blockchain, we pave the way for the creation of new roles and opportunities.

In the world of gaming, we're already seeing the power of innovation and technological advancements, inspiring a wave of positive developments. As the industry continues to evolve, those affected by economic challenges will have the chance to embrace these new technologies, such as AI and blockchain, and secure their place in this ever-changing landscape.

SE: What measures has your organization taken to ensure you're driving towards the most important goals?

VP: Our main goal is to bring more fun to the gaming community, and I'm convinced we are achieving it.

At the end of the day gamers desire one thing: fun.

They're not interested in tech demos or solutions in search of problems. They seek amazing games that take them seriously, grant them ownership of digital assets, and above all else - provide exceptional experiences.