Is Holosim a genius move or miscalculation? Star Atlas’s decision to release a free-to-play, Web2 version of its SAGE Labs game ahead of its community onboarding has me reflecting. It pretty clearly gives off that “gateway drug” impression. Is that really the best way to mass adoption, especially in places like Southeast Asia? Are we really luring people in with the whiff of a better, more ubiquitous, evenly distributed Web3 future? Or maybe we’re just stringing them along to the legacy Web.

Web2 Ease: Luring in the Masses?

Let's be real. Web3 is complicated. Wallets, gas fees, seed phrases… even the most tech-savvy individuals are overwhelmed. My mom wouldn’t know where to start! For most of Southeast Asia, getting online is a struggle. With digital literacy extremely low across the region, taking on Web3 is like climbing Mount Everest in flip-flops.

Holosim offers a smooth, familiar ramp. No crypto knowledge required. Just sign up and play. It's a way to experience the core gameplay loop of Star Atlas – choosing a faction, managing fleets, completing contracts – without the Web3 learning curve. This is undeniably smart. It’s akin to giving out a free sample of the entree before trying to get people to purchase the entire all-you-can-eat buffet.

Are we truly empowering people, or are we just exploiting the familiarity of Web2 to hook them into a system that ultimately benefits the few? I’ve planned a lot of hackathons. I’ve witnessed first-hand how fast excitement can morph into resentment when well-intentioned people encounter unnecessarily complicated systems. Holosim can’t just be a demo — it has to be a gateway experience.

Southeast Asia: A Unique Battleground

Southeast Asia is a distinct bed of opportunity for Web3. There’s an enormous, digitally-native demographic, eager for novel experiences. There is a good measure of skepticism. The scars of scams and rug pulls have unfortunately left a bitter aftertaste for a lot of folks. Trust is earned, not given.

Holosim is clearly a powerful tool, but it can be most useful if it is used to build trust and educate. Now picture that same community center with the additional capacity for players to train how they want. Here, they can collaborate with each other, learn about the potential of Web3 in an inclusive, safe, and welcoming environment. The new AI assistant is a remarkable start. It needs to develop further than just a basic play-to-earn game tutorial and transform into an actual Web3 tutor.

The trick is to encourage true community buy-in. To do that, Star Atlas needs to deeply engage their players in the development process, solicit and encourage feedback and ideas, and reward valuable contributions. Think DAOs, not just high scores. This is where the true beauty of community empowerment lies. Most importantly, it reflects the true grassroots activism that I have experienced in my own work within the bonds of SEL. So let’s tap into that community, their intelligence and creativity! With our collective efforts, we can remove the roadblocks to Web3 adoption and create a more inclusive ecosystem that benefits everyone.

Atlas Token: The End Game?

Finally, the long-term success of Holosim will depend on how well it fits into a larger Star Atlas ecosystem. Will coaches and players be smoothly transitioned over to SAGE Labs? Will their advances in Holosim result in real-world, value-added rewards within the Web3 ecosystem? Or will they be left with the impression that they just experienced a fancy demo? Or will they feel like their time and effort were indeed well spent?

No doubt that the $ATLAS token, with its multi-million dollar market cap, speaks to the promise of a decentralized, player-owned economy. That promise will surely ring hollow if Holosim players find themselves sitting on the sidelines, viewing the action from the Web2 bleachers.

So I strongly encourage the Star Atlas team to deliver a realistic roadmap. This needs to be a roadmap explaining what their plans are on onboarding Holosim players into the Web3 ecosystem. This includes:

  • Educational Resources: Simple, accessible guides to Web3 concepts, wallets, and security best practices.
  • Easy Onboarding: Streamlined wallet creation and funding processes.
  • Meaningful Rewards: Opportunities to earn $ATLAS tokens and other in-game assets through Holosim play.

Holosim also really has the potential to be a Trojan Horse for Web3. It can fully succeed only if it’s accompanied by an infusion of knowledge, opportunity, and empowerment. If not, it’s just another Web2 game, coasting on the fumes of Web3 without living up to the concept’s expectations. Let’s ensure this dangerous gateway drug opens the door to a better world, not just a fatter bottom line.