Sq. Enix, the Japanese sport developer behind the beloved Last Fantasy franchise, has signed on as a node validator for blockchain gaming venture Oasys, with the duo additionally teaming as much as create blockchain video games.
The transfer has predictably been met with criticism from some crypto- and NFT-hating members of the gaming neighborhood, irritated that the agency is continuous to double down its concentrate on blockchain tech.
In a Monday announcement, Oasys revealed that Sq. Enix had jumped on board to be the venture’s twenty first node validator, taking on the ultimate slot of preliminary validators.
Transferring ahead, the duo may even crew as much as develop new video games on Oasys’ EVM suitable proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain, which hopes to change into a hub for Triple-A high quality video games with play-to-earn (P2E) integrations.
Sq. Enix joins a bunch of massive names in gaming to associate with Oasys equivalent to Sega, Double Leap, Bandai Namco and Ubisoft — with the latter additionally having a troubled historical past with avid gamers who’ve pushed again towards the agency’s NFT gaming initiative Quartz.
In 2022, Sq. Enix has carried out irreparable harm to its picture by
– Investing in crypto- Now not prioritizing “enjoyable” in gaming- Promoting off all their western studios
I’d name it self sabotage, however in comparison with what’s occurred to Warner Bros this yr, it’s truthfully nothing https://t.co/TD8d1O1nj9
— Bruh Momento (@JBoop_is_ballin) September 12, 2022
The pitchforks are out
Whereas the prospect of getting respected gaming giants leaping behind a blockchain venture is welcome information within the blockchain world, the normal gaming neighborhood has not acquired Sq. Enix’s transfer effectively.
The Gamer reported the information, with the headline: “Sq. Enix Units Its Dreaded NFT Plans In Movement By Partnering With Crypto Firm.”
“In contrast to most online game builders who determined to announce their ventures into the jpeg-filled world of NFTs, Sq. Enix has solely been doubling down on it,” the article notes, because it questions Sq. Enix president and CEO Yosuke Matsuda’s earlier statements about introducing P2E parts into video games:
“He most likely ignored the truth that so many NFT video games aren’t simply scams, but additionally appear like they have been made by an precise bored ape.”
On Twitter, gamer ShyVortex mentioned the partnership was “really disgusting. By no means shopping for a Sq. Enix sport once more,” whereas eramaster12 questioned, “what does it take to f#ckin drive them to cease?”
Pilnok additionally chimed in that this “has change into tiresome and embarrassing” and ManuelRomer2 added, “what about simply don’t solely?”
pic.twitter.com/AVI7Kf2lB0
— RecklesFlam1ngo (@RecklesFlam1ngo) September 12, 2022
Sq. Enix and blockchain
Sq. Enix has been regularly ramping up its blockchain associated plans in 2022, regardless of pushback.
Matsuda said in a New Yr’s Letter in January that he was significantly within the thought of introducing blockchain-enabled “token economies” into video games to incentivize each gamers and customers that generate content material so as to add to the video games.
“With advances in token economies, customers will likely be supplied with express incentives, thereby ensuing not solely in better consistency of their motivation, but additionally making a tangible upside to their artistic efforts,” he wrote.
Associated: Ubisoft cools off on NFTs and blockchain, says it’s in ‘analysis mode’
Whereas blockchain is but to creep into Sq. Enix’s video games, the agency kicked issues off in July by releasing tokenized character figures for $129.99 that includes characters equivalent to Cloud Strife from Last Fantasy.
