Sq. Enix are threatening to overshadow the twenty fifth anniversary of Ultimate Fantasy 7 by partnering with Enjin, a cryptocurrency platform, to launch non-fungible tokens (NFTs) based mostly on the long-running JRPG sequence. To coincide with the anniversary, Squeenix can be releasing a digital assortment of playing cards on Enjin’s Efinity community for house owners of bodily playing cards which might be anticipated to go on sale in 2023. There’s an NFT linked to a Cloud Strife motion determine too. Be happy to observe the trailer for Ultimate Fantasy 7 Rebirth under to take your thoughts off this woeful occasion.
For those who had been so inclined, you possibly can plonk down $160 (£134) for the Cloud Strife motion determine, which comes with an NFT to gawp at in your smartphone or laptop. That is the ‘Digital Plus Version’ of the statue, however it’s $30 (£25) cheaper should you simply purchase the usual determine with no NFT connected. Not a very good look, Sq. Enix.
It will get worse, as Sq. Enix have even drawn consideration to the potential for not having the ability to use the NFTs if Enjin’s service was to ever finish. Below a bit titled ‘Warning earlier than Buying’ on the itemizing for the Cloud statue, Squeenix say “Warning: In case the Enjin companies turns into unavailable sooner or later, chances are you’ll lose entry to the NFT digital certificates of authenticity and digital model of the determine”.
“This partnership marks a coming-of-age section for digital belongings and leisure; Sq. Enix, an esteemed developer with iconic mental property, is paving the best way for the trade,” Enjin govt Witek Radomski stated. Enjin say they provide “environmentally-friendly options for constructing decentralised gaming merchandise”, and have dedicated themselves to creating their NFTs carbon-neutral by 2030. Possibly simply don’t use the expertise within the first place?
One tweet summed the entire NFTs scenario up fairly properly:
I imply… pic.twitter.com/RtJIhLffUa
— GameDev Mum (@GameDevMum) July 21, 2022
Squeenix’s president greeted the beginning of the 12 months by setting a course in the direction of a way forward for blockchain for the corporate. Yosuke Matsuda didn’t appear to understand how that might work on the time, nevertheless, saying the corporate would “preserve an in depth eye on societal shifts on this area whereas listening to the numerous teams of customers that populate it, and ramp up our efforts to develop a enterprise accordingly, with a watch to probably issuing our personal tokens sooner or later”.
It’s not simply Squeenix leaping on the blockchain bandwagon in shambolic trend although. Konami, EA and Take Two have all expressed their curiosity at getting into crypto. Firms normally cite it as the way forward for gaming, in some appropriately intangible method.
Sq. Enix and others might have dedicated to NFTs and the blockchain, however some video games firms are extra cautious of the controversial applied sciences. Solely yesterday, Minecraft devs Mojang Studios issued an announcement saying they wouldn’t permit both NFTs or blockchain to “create fashions of shortage and exclusion that battle with our Pointers and the spirit of Minecraft”. Mojang did make clear that they’d control how blockchain evolves to see if it might supply safety or sensible methods to enhance the sport sooner or later, although.
The subsequent instalment of the Ultimate Fantasy 7 Remake saga, Rebirth, was introduced on a twenty fifth anniversary stream final month. It’s attributable to launch in winter 2023 on PlayStation, however may very well be a way off on PC given the primary half took a 12 months and a half to reach.