NFTs
Ubisoft is trying to revive NFTs and I’m terribly bored of it all
It’s safe to say that the NFT craze has slowly but surely faded into obscurity – or so I thought. In a bizarre move, video game publisher Ubisoft has announced a new partnership for its latest blockchain-based game, Champion Tactics, which will integrate Web3 technologies into its gameplay.
Ubisoft’s previous venture into NFTs proved unpopular with its fans, which begs the question: why revive this digital art trend when the cultural climate around NFTs is seemingly dead? With a complete inability to read between the lines, Ubisoft’s flaccid attempt to revitalize the NFT gaming sphere appears to have already fizzled, receiving backlash even before the game’s official launch.
Partnership with Japanese blockchain developer double jump.tokyoUbisoft’s latest move comes as a surprise after its failed NFT platform Quartz was met with fierce backlash from gaming fans. According to a announcementChampions Tactics: Grimoria Chronicles is set to be a PVP tactical RPG. It will integrate the Oasys L2 HOME Verse blockchain to explore what Ubisoft Web3 Product and Technical Director Didier Genevois calls the “future of gaming.”
“We believe this partnership will provide valuable insights into how decentralized technology can blend with gaming. Together, we hope to deliver high-quality and fun gameplay that leverages blockchain technology,” added Didier.
After previously stating that its fanbase simply “doesn’t get it” when it comes to NFTs, Ubisoft’s callous reinstatement of Web3 technology seems completely out of touch. Gaming fans on Reddit were quick to share their disgust with the news, with one user writing about r/pcgames subreddit “They’re desperate to say they have something new and innovative, even though absolutely no one wants it.” Another added “This just shows how useless NFTs are, sure you ‘own’ the NFT by pointing to an item in a database, but ultimately Ubisoft still owns and controls the database,” while one user sarcastically commented: “I have to say I’m impressed. I’d be hard-pressed to come up with a more generic game name than ‘champion tactics’.”
In a climate where AI and the Future of Game Design exist in an uncertain balance, the last thing we need is big companies like Ubisoft opting for heartless money-grabbing tactics that move the gaming sphere’s focus away from organic, man-made content. While some communities are trying revive NFT art with a focus on genuine value, the resounding feedback from gaming fans is one of disappointment and fatigue – we understand that and we don’t want that.