Square Enix Has Multiple Blockchain Games in Development

Yosuke Matsuda, president of video game publisher Square Enix, reveals the company has multiple blockchain titles currently in development.

Video game publisher Square Enix will release several titles featuring NFTs.

As reported by Anime News Network, Yosuke Matsuda, president and representative director of Square Enix, revealed the video game company had “multiple” blockchain games in development. Blockchain games are titles that include non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and cryptocurrencies. In Square Enix’s New Year’s Letter, Matsuda announced the video game publisher had devoted “aggressive investment and business development efforts” to its future in blockchain gaming. Furthermore, Square Enix’s original intellectual properties will inspire the company’s future blockchain gaming catalog.

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Square Enix NFT Plans

Previously, Square Enix’s New Year’s Letter for 2022 declared its investment in NFTs and metaverse technology. Following the controversial announcement, many people flocked to social media to criticize the company for its recent business move. One Final Fantasy fan compared Square Enix to the Shinra Electric Power Company, an evil and money-hungry corporation in FFVII. Coincidentally, Square Enix also sells figurines of Final Fantasy VII characters Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith with NFTs.

On Nov. 3, the Dragon Quest game publisher announced Symbiogenesis, its first digital collectible art project. With an expected release date of spring 2023, Symbiogenesis features six chapters and 10,000 NFT artworks in collaboration with LGG, Japan’s largest game guild. The upcoming game includes characters of different racial and career backgrounds and will be available in English and Japanese.

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In December 2021, Ubisoft announced NFTs would appear in Ghost Recon: Breakpoint. The non-fungible tokens, available only in Ghost Recon’s PC version, allow players a range of options for gun skins and armor pieces. The company unveiled “Digits” as a “unique collectible that features its own serial number for others to see in-game.” A new platform titled Ubisoft Quartz is responsible for tracking Digits. Following the service’s announcement trailer, users dramatically increased the video’s dislike count.

“With Digits, items are no longer bound to a player’s game inventory since they can be put on sale for other eligible players to acquire outside of the Ubisoft ecosystem,” Ubisoft wrote. While many argue the NFT process hurts the environment, the corporation argued Digits is “energy-efficient” and “environmentally sustainable.” However, Ghost Recon’s NFT feature could have fared better with players. Ultimately, Ubisoft blamed fans for the failure of its digital marketing strategy.

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Square Enix’s Future Games

Besides an increased interest in the cryptocurrency world, Square Enix’s extensive line-up includes the future releases of Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth and Final Fantasy XVI. FFVII Rebirth producer Yoshinori Kitase also teased major news beyond the existing project. “Rest assured we’re working hard to make sure 2023 is the most exciting year yet,” he said. According to the 2021 leak on Nvidia’s GeForce Now streaming service, fans suspect Square Enix could be working on a remaster of Final Fantasy Tactics or a remake of Final Fantasy IX.

Source: Anime News Network