- Take-Two Interactive, famed ‘Grand Theft Auto’ publisher, is launching a blockchain game, setting a precedent in the gaming world.
- Major Asian game developers are already exploring crypto gaming, suggesting big Western publishers will soon make similar moves.
The Dawn of Blockchain in Mainstream Gaming
The longstanding relationship between gaming and cryptocurrency has always held promise. To many, it’s the golden bridge that could lead to widespread adoption of blockchain, fundamentally revolutionizing how we perceive digital ownership.
Take-Two Interactive Software, the powerhouse behind the colossal “Grand Theft Auto” franchise, has taken a pioneering step into this promising terrain. With their new game “Sugartown”, developed on the Ethereum blockchain through Zynga (a mobile gaming entity acquired for $12.7 billion), they’re introducing a paradigm where players can acquire, possess, and trade Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs).
Why the Change?
Urvit Goel, who now spearheads business development at Polygon Labs after a tenure at Amazon Gaming, believes such initiatives are instrumental for establishing blockchain’s credibility in the larger gaming landscape. Despite billion-dollar in-game transactions in behemoths like “Grand Theft Auto” or Electronic Art’s “Madden” and “FIFA”, many industry titans have been circumspect about embracing blockchain. This reluctance, Goel posits, is largely due to wanting to maintain control over in-game assets.
However, with Take-Two’s dive into this realm, it’s evident that there’s confidence in blockchain’s potential. If the move doesn’t promise a lucrative return in the hundreds of millions, it wouldn’t be deemed a worthy venture.
Asia’s Proactive Stance
The shift isn’t exclusive to the West. Major Asian game developers are already trailblazing in crypto gaming. Goel underscores how Western companies have historically taken cues from Asian developers when treading new gaming avenues. Reflecting on when mobile gaming surged, it was the Asian developers who led the charge, not the traditional Western stalwarts.
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Supporting Goel’s perspective, recent collaborations like Epic Games and Nike, allowing “Fortnite” players to acquire digital sneaker NFTs, and Epic’s inclusion of blockchain games in its online store, underscore the momentum.
In Asia, Polygon Labs, renowned for its Layer 2 blockchain offering swifter and more economical operations than Ethereum, has collaborated with industry leaders. Korea’s Nexon, a gaming behemoth, has harnessed Polygon for enhancing its beloved MapleStory universe. Meanwhile, Square Enix, the brains behind “Final Fantasy”, is working alongside Polygon to birth an “interactive web3 digital collectible art experience” named Symbiogenesis.
With such significant advancements, both from the East and West, the gaming industry seems poised on the brink of a blockchain revolution. The unfolding chapters promise to be nothing short of fascinating.
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