Zynga hires Matt Wolf as VP of Blockchain Gaming

San Francisco-based game developer Zynga has hired Matt Wolf as its vice president of blockchain games to oversee the company’s blockchain gaming efforts. With Wolf on the team, Zynga will begin integrating NFTs and blockchain into its existing portfolio and developing new NFT-based games.

Zynga Chief Product Officer Scott Koenigsberg stated that the company has become an early adopter of emerging platforms and technologies, with new releases in Snap Games, Google Nest and Amazon Alexa. Koenigsberg said Wolf will help them reach a new addressable market through NFTs and explore new ownership possibilities for gamers.

“Zynga’s mission to connect the world through games makes NFTs and blockchain technology a natural next step in its evolution. Web3 token-based systems will allow us to innovate and deliver new forms of player value in our games, while also transforming how players interact with each other,” said Matt Wolf.

“By creating an integrated experience that enables players to become owners in their gaming journey, our goal is to expand Zynga’s audience reach and drive stronger engagement and retention. Above all, we are focused on maintaining a secure, inclusive and eco-friendly approach while harnessing this technology to enhance our player experience.”

Matt Wolf founded media agency D20 that focused on gaming, esports, blockchain and NFTs, before joining Zynga. Prior to D20, he  worked at Coca-Cola as Vice President of Entertainment and Ventures for strategic partnerships and initiatives. 

Zynga’s new hire is just the latest in updates to NFT gaming. Playable NFT game platform Mythical Games announced this week that it has raised $150 million at a $1.25B valuation. NFT-based virtual real estate game Upland, NFT gaming platform The Sandbox, NFT card game Parallel, and Animoca Brands are just a few of the NFT-based companies that have announced new investment rounds in the past few weeks.