The Play-to-Earn Era: My Axie Infinity and Pegaxy Journey

Hello Liketu readers! 👋

Today, I want to share a story that brings back many memories from the play-to-earn gaming era. Looking back at these old screenshots from my Facebook archives made me feel nostalgic, even though some of them are blurry and covered with emojis and text.

Back in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us were stuck at home with little to do. Like many others, I spent my time searching online for ways to earn money while staying indoors. That's when I discovered the world of blockchain gaming, particularly Axie Infinity.

At that time, getting into Axie wasn't as easy as it sounds. Before receiving a scholarship, we had to prove ourselves in the Discord community. I spent countless hours online, staying active in chats, participating in community activities, and trying to stand out among hundreds of applicants. There were days when I only slept around five hours because I didn't want to miss any opportunities.

After about three weeks of waiting and staying active, I was finally selected for an interview. Fortunately, I passed and received my scholarship team. The earnings were split 60/40, with 60% going to me and 40% to the owner. It was an exciting moment because I could finally start earning through gaming.

Over time, I earned around ₱10,000 from Axie Infinity. While it may not seem like a huge amount today, it meant a lot to me during that period. It showed me that online opportunities were real and that dedication could pay off.

Later, our manager introduced us to Pegaxy, the horse-racing play-to-earn game that became popular in 2021. The process was similar—we had to stay active in Discord again to earn a slot. After about two weeks, I was selected and given a horse to race.

Pegaxy turned out to be even more rewarding for me. During my time there, I earned around ₱50,000. It was an incredible experience and one that I never expected when I first started searching for online income opportunities.

But what I remember most wasn't the money.

It was the people.

Our manager wasn't just someone who distributed scholarships. He genuinely cared about the team. He even gave us team jackets and caps, making us feel like we were part of something bigger than just a game.

One memory that will always stay with me happened during a typhoon. We lost electricity and internet access for several days, making it impossible for us to play or communicate. We worried that our manager might think we had simply disappeared.

As soon as the weather improved, we searched for a place with electricity and Wi-Fi so we could finally contact the team and explain what had happened. To our surprise, they didn't get angry at all. Instead, they offered help and sent us money to support our basic needs while we recovered from the effects of the typhoon. That act of kindness showed us that our community was more than just a gaming team—it felt like a family.

Today, Axie Infinity and Pegaxy are no longer as popular as they once were, but the memories remain. The late nights, the Discord calls, the excitement of earning rewards, and the friendships we built along the way are things I will never forget.

Sometimes, when I look at these old screenshots, I don't just remember the games. I remember the people, the laughter, the struggles, and the community that made those years special.

Another thing that made the experience special was that our manager was from another country. Even though we had never met in person and lived far apart, he treated us with kindness and respect. Through Discord, we built a strong connection as a team despite our different backgrounds and time zones. It was amazing how a game could bring together people from different parts of the world and make us feel like one community.

Unfortunately, these are the only photos I was able to recover from that time. Most of my other screenshots and memories are stored on an old phone with a broken screen. Since I haven't had the chance to get it repaired yet, I could only use the photos that were saved in my Facebook story archive. Even though there aren't many pictures, they still bring back a lot of memories from those unforgettable days.

I truly miss those days, and I miss our team.

Thank you for reading! 💙