Ubisoft’s Venture into NFTs Flops, Gamers Displeased

Earlier this month, popular game developer Ubisoft announced its plans to explore the world of NFTs. Along with the announcement, the company launched a new platform called Quartz, where players can acquire digital assets which could be integrated into their games. The feature was most recently added to Ubisoft’s title “Ghost Recon Breakpoint.” However, fans and individuals within the gaming industry saw the move as a mere opportunity to cash grab on one of its most beloved games.

“To me, this is a blatant signal that you’re just milking the Ghost Recon franchise for literally every cent while putting in minimal effort into the actual game itself,” explained YouTuber OperatorDrewski.

A spokesperson from Ubisoft assured that the assets found on Quartz are free, noting that the game developer will not be taking a cut from any market sales generated by “Digits”. “Ubisoft Quartz is an experiment,” added the spokesperson. “Digits are cosmetic, playable in-game items that have no impact on gameplay. In that sense, they are completely optional.”

The disapproval of NFTs in games is also stemmed from the environmental concerns surrounding the emerging technology. In this light, Ubisoft has affirmed that it utilizes a less energy-intensive cryptocurrency network called Tezos. Other game developers are also caught in the divide of whether or not to integrate NFTs into their own titles. Andre Wilson, CEO of EA, believes that this is “an important part of the future of our industry” while Ukrainian developer GSC Game World recently ditched its NFT plans for the upcoming “STALKER 2” game after receiving backlash from fans.

“There are definitely some aspects of [NFTs] that feel a little exploitive right now with some of these games,” said The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley. “To me, what I love about games is the worlds, stories and experiences inside them. What I don’t want is for things to feel transactional. It’s a bit like microtransactions, when that was the big drama for gamers.” Microsoft Xbox executive vice-president for Gaming Phil Spencer has also forwarded similar sentiments.

At the other end of the spectrum, blockchain-based games such as Axie Infinity have been rising in popularity throughout the year, particularly for the play-to-earn system that it promotes. Nonetheless, Omdia principal analyst George Jijiashvili offers some words of caution for game developers diving into NFTs while it is still largely in its “embryonic stage.”

“Rushing into offering NFTs without fully evaluating it could lead to serious reputational damage.”

Source: CNBC