Web3 Development Cost For Games Like Axie Infinity [Detailed Guide]

You’ve seen Axie Infinity’s incredible revenue of 4 billion dollars and its dominance in the market. You have a vision for the next big play-to-earn sensation. But the first, most crucial question is: “How much will this cost?” 

To be direct, the web3 development cost for games like Axie Infinity is a question without a single answer. It is a range that falls between $50,000 and $300,000. However, this article will not just give you a number. You’ll get a transparent web3 development cost breakdown of where your investment goes, from the obvious to the hidden key factors. 

Whether you’re a gamer who wants to understand the mechanics or an entrepreneur seeking cost clarity for building P2E crypto games Android apps. We help you explore all important numbers and factors to build the most profitable play-to-earn games like Axie Infinity in 2025. 

P2E Games 2025 Market Growth & Trends

The rise of Axie Infinity was a watershed moment for the gaming industry. It showed how profitable play-to-earn games can build a digital economy for players to own assets and earn rewards. 

The Sandbox is also one of the most profitable play-to-earn games example. Like Axie, it proved the potential of user-generated content and virtual land. These mobile game development projects create new revenue streams beyond in-app purchases and lead growth in P2E demand.

Looking at the outlook for P2E games 2025, our blockchain analysis projects that Web3 gaming will reach $65.7 billion in global value by 2027. The focus should be on mobile-first design, because P2E games on Android remain more accessible in major markets. 

For entrepreneurs everywhere who want to capture this wave, the web3 development cost for games like Axie Infinity is high, but the potential returns are even higher. According to a report from DappRadar, at its peak, Axie Infinity generated over $4 billion in total NFT sales, proving that web3 development costs are investment.

How Much Does Web3 Development Cost For Games like Axie Infinity?

The web3 development cost for Android games like Axie Infinity ranges widely from $50,000 to over $300,000. However, that’s just an estimate, and your final web3 development cost depends on the game’s features and complexity. We can break down the Android games like Axie Infinity development cost into three tiers. 

An MVP (Minimum Viable Product) might cost less compared to a full-featured game, whereas the AAA title with advanced graphics could be over a million dollars. Here is a quick table.

The wide price range in web3 development costs exists because every game is unique. Axie Infinity’s success has inspired many to try a similar model. Their revenue proves that the play-to-earn crypto games for Android and iOS can be very profitable. You can start with a basic version and add more features later. 

Key Factors That Influence Web3 Development Cost

Several factors directly affect the web3 development cost. These include gameplay, blockchain choice, and team size. Whether you opt for simple or complex ones, the backend technology is a main driver of the Android games like Axie Infinity development cost.

Gameplay Complexity

A simple game with limited mechanics built cheaply. To add PvP battles, breeding systems, and interactive economies, you need the assistance of custom software development services, which ultimately increases the cost.

Blockchain and Smart Contract Development

The blockchain integration cost in play-to-earn crypto games can vary. For example, using Polygon is more affordable than Ethereum but may have different community size. 

Similarly, your smart contract development cost for P2E games is based on how many contracts you need and how secure you want them.

NFT Marketplace and Asset Economy

Minting, trading, and rarity tiers define how deep your NFT marketplace goes. If you want a full in-game marketplace like Axie Infinity, you must budget for NFT marketplace features for P2E games.

UI/UX and Game Art Design

Designing game characters in high-quality 3D with smooth animations takes more time and larger budgets than simple 2D sprites. This is where P2E game design and complexity matter most.

Security and Scalability

Anti-cheat systems and server scaling add hidden costs. You cannot ignore these, especially wallet integration in P2E games on Android, if you want long-term stability.

Development Team Size and Location

Game app developers in Florida or Miami from the USA may charge $100 to $150 an hour, while teams in Eastern Europe or Asia may charge between $30 and $60. Team size affects Web3 game costs more than many expect.

Feature Checklist To Build A Web3 Game Like Axie Infinity

Games like Axie Infinity succeed because of specific features like clear play-to-earn mechanics and NFT ownership. Your web3 development cost for games like Axie Infinity rises with each feature added. However, not all are needed for a launch. You should start with the core features and then build upon them.

Core Features

The core features are what separate a play-to-earn crypto games free model from a traditional game. These include:

• Player-owned NFTs
• PvP and PvE modes
• Token rewards and staking
• In-game NFT marketplace

Advanced Features

You can also add these advanced features, such as:

• Wallet integration (MetaMask, Coinbase)
• DAO voting for community governance
• Tournaments and seasonal leaderboards
• Cross-platform app development (Web + Android + iOS)

Note: The web3 development cost of a game with all of these features is on the high end of the scale.

Detailed Breakdown of Web3 Development Cost to Build Games Like Axie Infinity

The cost to develop Web3 Android games like Axie Infinity usually comes from several stages. These include pre-development, design, and coding. 

Below is a realistic breakdown of the web3 development cost at each stage, which helps you plan for expenses across each phase of production.

Pre-Development | $10k–$40k

Pre-development covers documentation, concept planning, and tokenomics design. Without clear whitepapers or a strong economic model, even well-built P2E games risk collapse. Axie Infinity itself relied heavily on a defined earning model, which became a key attraction for early adopters.

Game Design & Art | $20k–$100k

This phase is all about the look and feel of your game. Costs swing based on whether you choose a 2D style for Android-first builds or a complex 3D style for cross-platform games. NFT-based games like Axie Infinity and the Sandbox needed higher investment because of immersive environments and user-generated assets.

Blockchain & Smart Contracts | $30k–$120k

This is the core and sensitive part of Web3 game development. It includes all the code that runs on the blockchain. Due to the complexity, the smart contract development cost for P2E games makes a major budget item.

Smart contracts handle all the logic for your NFTs and tokens. They govern how in-game assets are created and traded. For example, a contract might handle the breeding of new characters. The security of this code is vital in blockchain development. A single mistake could be catastrophic, so you must get these contracts right from the start.

Gameplay Development | $40k–$200k

This is the programming that makes your game fun to play. It includes building the game engine and all the core mechanics like combat, quests, and movement. The more complex your gameplay, the higher the cost to develop Web3 Android games like Axie Infinity. 

Developers of titles like Gods Unchained spent heavily on battle mechanics because players would not tolerate lag or downtime in blockchain-based competition.

NFT Integration | $25k–$80k

The NFT marketplace integration cost is another significant part of your budget as it builds your in-game economy. It includes the marketplace where players trade assets and their crypto wallets. 

Your players need a safe place to trade assets. They also need to connect their wallets to your game. When marketplaces also support rarity tiers or staking, the cost rises. For example, Splinterlands benefited from strong secondary trading activity, which drove long-term retention.

Quality and Security Testing  | $15k–$50k

This phase is about finding problems before your players do. Web3 games face higher risks because exploits in smart contracts can lead to token losses. According to Bitget, crypto scams and frauds surged $1.7 billion in 2025, showing why audits are critical.

Rigorous audits, bug bounty programs, and wallet testing prevent expensive mistakes. You must not skip this step for your game’s safety and long-term success.

Promotion & Launch | $20k–$70k

Unlike Web2 games that rely mostly on ads, P2E games grow through community trust. This phase is about building a loyal community through social media marketing services and a solid launch strategy. This is how you get people to play.

Marketing usually includes influencer partnerships, Discord moderation, and early reward campaigns. A good launch strategy ensures your game gets the attention it deserves. Axie Infinity built its player base through grassroots guilds, which reduced its acquisition costs.

Post Maintenance & Updates | $5k–$20k monthly

A successful game is never truly finished. You will need to fix bugs, add new features, and manage the community. This is a long-term cost that is an ongoing part of the total budget.

The game market is always changing. You must keep your game fresh with new content to keep players engaged. You also need a team to handle customer support. Strong live-ops are the reason titles like Axie Infinity and The Sandbox continue to attract active communities years after launch.

Timeframe to Build a Web3 Game Like Axie Infinity

The time to develop Android games like Axie Infinity depends on complexity. A basic MVP can take 4-6 months, and a full-featured game can take over a year. While having a larger team can speed things up, quality assurance and testing still take time. 

The web3 development cost for games like Axie Infinity is also a function of time. Here is a structured Web3 game launch roadmap that helps align costs and development sprints.

We have seen that ongoing updates are a key to a game’s success. Axie Infinity itself evolved over the years, proving that updates matter as much as launch deadlines. This makes web3 development cost a long-term investment.

Hidden & Overlooked Web3 Development Cost

The cost to develop games like Axie Infinity also incurs some expenses that are not obvious at first. These can include legal fees, player acquisition, and live operations. You must plan for these hidden costs of developing P2E games to avoid major risks for sustainability.

1. Tokenomics and legal compliance in play-to-earn crypto games: Projects must meet licensing rules and SEC scrutiny in the US. Non-compliance can result in fines or bans.
2. Ongoing blockchain fees: Gas fees, node operations, and validator costs are recurring. Large P2E ecosystems pay thousands monthly just to keep networks running.
3. Player acquisition and marketing also demand higher budgets in Web3 compared to traditional gaming. Discord mods and reward campaigns consume steady funding.
4. Long-term live operations: Servers, balance patches, and community management add recurring expenses. Games that skip them see engagement drop quickly. 

The legal compliance in play-to-earn crypto games free tiers, and ongoing operational costs often exceed initial development budgets. Smart founders plan for these early to avoid disruptions post-launch.

How TekRevol Optimizes Web3 Development Cost 

TekRevol follows a lean approach for affordable web3 game development without sacrificing quality.  We usually recommend layer-2 blockchains to build MVPs since they keep gas fees low while giving the security and speed of Ethereum. That decision alone can reduce Android P2E game cost by a huge margin.

On the development side, TekRevol relies on SDKs and frameworks that speed up wallet integration and NFT minting while lowering risk. Anyone serious about building the next profitable play-to-earn crypto game, this approach keeps web3 development costs lean but outcomes strong.