Ryan Wyatt was an outspoken advocate of blockchain and NFTs on YouTube. And now switches to the crypto company Polygon Studios.
New position at Polygon Studios
The head of YouTube Gaming, Ryan Wyatt, will soon be leaving his position at the tech company. As of March, Wyatt will become the CEO of Polygon Studios, a new venture dedicated to building on Polygon.
Despite YouTube’s own growing interest in blockchain and NFTs, Wyatt says it’s time for a new venture. “I came to YouTube almost eight years ago to give gamers a voice and represent the gamer’s needs every day,” Wyatt wrote on Twitter.
It is bittersweet news to share that I am leaving @YouTube.
I have loved every minute of my time here, but it is time for my next endeavor.
I am left to announce that I will be joining @0xPolygon ($MATIC) as their CEO of Polygon Studios.
Thank you for the memories! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/VhQxpqDbFO
— Ryan Wyatt (fwiz.eth) (@Fwiz) January 25, 2022
“In my role at Polygon Studios, I will focus on developing developers through investment and marketing. I want to bridge the gap between Web2 and Web3. I will lead the Polygon Studios organization in gaming, entertainment, fashion, news, sports and more.”
Wyatt led YouTube Gaming’s live streaming initiatives and closed exclusive deals. As a result, YouTube Gaming now has a foothold in the video game live streaming space.
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Gamers are not (yet) open to the blockchain
Now Wyatt can bring some of that same entertainment to the Web3 space. However, many gamers have rejected NFTs and blockchain networks. They criticize the energy consumption of blockchains and the alleged environmental impact. Some even blame miners for their inability to get their hands on graphics cards for their gaming PCs.
Wyatt believes angry gamers will eventually switch to blockchain gaming. “Gamers will begin to see its value”he tweeted earlier this month.
Wyatt’s belief in the blockchain gaming space is very strong. In a nine-part Twitter thread in September, Wyatt stated, “We are going through a tectonic shift in the gaming industry in the next five years.”
He believes the next generation of gamers will challenge conventional formats. According to him, gamers want the value of their items to have an actual monetary value. Most in-game assets are illiquid. NFTs and the blockchain are changing this by providing an open transparent market.
In December, Polygon Studios announced the financing of gaming company GameOn. This was part of a $100 million fund focused on future Web3-related projects. Gaming studios Atari and Animoca Brands are listed as partners on the official Polygon Studios site, as are NFT marketplace OpenSea and metaverse project Decentraland.
