I have been seeing quite a few posts lately heralding the changes to earning dec, chests at the bronze levels as the end of Splinterlands. Let's not forget the key aspect of a blockchain game like Splinterlands: Actual asset ownership through NFTs.
I used to (and still occasionally) play Hearthstone. I put money, time, and effort into the game, and while I enjoyed it, there was always that "sunk cost" fallacy lurking at the back of my mind. Did I play because I still enjoyed the game when the devs rolled out a patch I didn't like, a new boring game mode, or a trash meta? Or did I keep playing because of how much money I spent?
With Splinterlands, guess what? Yes I can still earn dec from playing, sps staking, and airdrops, but for me, that is secondary to to fact that if I really just get bored of this game and want to be done, I can SELL my assets and recoup - even in the worst case scenario - a portion of my investment. If I want to take an extended break? Put my cards up for rent and come back in a couple months.
That for me is the big revelation that is coming to the gaming world - ownership. Splinterlands isn't for everyone, but battling in the mobile app is generally smooth. Once they iron out the play store/app store purchases again and can expand the functionality, I believe this project will boom.
This is a long term play for me, and the fact I can earn something on the side and actually have control over my assets will make the ride fun. Good luck all, and happy battling!