Ubisoft Won't Give Up NFTs: ‘It's a Major Change That Will Take Time’
The massive criticism of digits isn't deterring Ubisoft from blockchain. The company still sees the technology as the future of gaming, albeit admitting that such a big change takes time.
Player enthusiasm after Ubisoft introduced its own non-fungible tokens (i.e. NFTs) was not so much moderate as virtually non-existent. But will it discourage the French publisher from doing so, like in the case of the developers of S.T.A.L.K.E.R, 2?
Apparently not. Didier Genevois, blockchain technical director, assured in an interview for Decrypt that Ubisoft intends to continue investing in NFTs. Yes, the company is aware that not everyone has welcomed the introduction of digital certificates of ownership, known as digits, into its games. Nevertheless, it sees blockchains as the future of gaming and wants to show players "the true value of decentralization," which Genevois admits may take time:
“Our main objective with Ubisoft Quartz is to showcase the true value of decentralization to our players. Aleph.im played a key role in the realization of our vision by allowing us to go one step further and decentralize the storage of the Digits' video asset and metadata. [...] We know it is a major change that will take time, but we will stay true to our three principles."
These "principles" are: responsible use of technology, ensuring a safe ecosystem, and using solutions that have the least possible impact on the environment. This doesn't dispel all the doubts players have about digits, for example, when it comes to in-game skins (because those remain Ubisoft's property, despite buyers having an NFT).
As you can see, Ubisoft is determined to bet on NFTs, which isn't much of a surprise. The company has long shown interest in blockchains. Already two years ago, the publisher was said to be considering the implementation of this technology in video games.
Anyway, Ubisoft is not alone in its quest. Square Enix has also made the first steps in the market for non-fungible tokens. EA president Andrew Wilson expressed his belief that NFTs and cryptocurrencies are the future of video games. It is also impossible not to mention Peter Molyneux, who already recorded first success (even before the release of the game associated with the developer's initiative).
