LogInMind-boggling inability to read the room.
If you thought that this whole trend of NFTs in video games has fizzled out and become nothing more than a despised footnote in gaming history, you'd be sorely mistaken as gaming giant Ubisoft continues its efforts to push NFTs into its games, recently announcing a new partnership with Japanese blockchain developer double jump.tokyo.
Ubisoft
Demonstrating what one can describe as a mind-boggling inability to read the room and heed the community's criticism of the idea, Ubisoft has partnered with a blockchain developer to support Web3 integration for its blockchain-based game, Champions Tactics, in the Asian region.
The first step in this initiative, the announcement reads, is for Champions Tactics: Grimoria Chronicles to integrate with the Oasys Layer 2 HOME Verse blockchain, developed and operated by double jump.tokyo. Currently, the specifics of integrating NFTs into the game remain unclear, as the official announcement offers little information about Champions Tactics aside from listing its Web3 features.
"Teaming up with double jump.tokyo has been exciting because they bring not just technical skills but also a shared passion for the future of gaming," Ubisoft commented. "We think this partnership will offer valuable insights on how decentralized technology can mix with gaming. Together, we look forward to delivering high-quality, entertaining gameplay that harnesses blockchain technology."
Before announcing Champions Tactics in June 2023, Ubisoft had already ventured into the NFT space, launching a set of Assassin's Creed NFTs created by Integral Reality Labs and integrating Ubisoft Quartz, a platform for buying and selling NFTs, into Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint.
Despite the studio's best attempts to defend the idea by saying that the players just don't get NFTs yet, the community stance has been pretty much unanimous, with the overwhelming majority of gamers hating all things Web3 and viewing NFTs as nothing more than an attempt to capitalize on a shady trend to get an extra buck or two from the players.
The over-abundance of NFT-related scams that plagued the internet in 2021-2022 has also contributed to the skepticism, with many now seeing buzzwords like "NFT", "blockchain", and "Web3" as red flags, warning them to steer clear of such projects. Whether Ubisoft's renewed push for NFTs in its games will succeed thanks to a small minority of crypto enthusiasts or end up as a massive failure, both financially and reputationally, remains to be seen.
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