Ubisoft Says It Will Continue NFT Plans Despite Backlash

Ubisoft received backlash from fans and players after it implemented in-game NFTs in a triple-A game. In spite of that, the gaming giant has doubled down on its NFT plans, partnering with Aleph.im, a cross-blockchain decentralized storage and computing network, to launch dynamic NFTs.

Ubisoft Partners With Aleph.im 

Aleph.im announced Tuesday that it has been selected to offer decentralized storage for dynamic NFTs; specialized NFTs with traits and data that can be continually changed through outside influence — on Ubisoft’s blockchain-powered NFT platform called Quartz. 

Aleph.im detailed that players will have the option to purchase dynamic NFTs, dubbed ‘Digits,’ on Quartz. These NFTs, which present in-game assets such as weapons and equipment, will be used in Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint, one of Ubisoft’s AAA games. Notably, players will be able to trade these NFTs on secondary marketplaces like Rarible and Objkt.

Earlier this month, Ubisoft became the first major gaming company to release a triple-A game where in-game assets are tradeable NFTs. However, since the game itself was not free, the addition of other buyable assets has angered some players. Even though the reception of the Ubisoft Quartz system was not favorable, the gaming giant is proceeding with its NFT plans.

“We have received a lot of feedback since the announcement, and we hear both the encouragement and the concerns,” said Didier Genevois, Ubisoft’s Blockchain Technical Director, when asked about their initial in-game NFT rollout experience. “We understand where the sentiment towards the technology comes from, and we need to keep taking it into consideration every step of the way.” 

“This experiment is meant to understand how the value proposition of decentralization can be received and embraced by our players. We know it is a major change that will take time, but we will stay true to our three principles.”

Genevois claims that Ubisoft’s main objectives are using new technologies and innovations “responsibly” to build a safe environment for players to explore new inventions like NFTs. Pointing at the fact that Quartz is created atop Tezos, a considerably more energy-efficient blockchain compared to Ethereum, he said they “only leverage energy-efficient proof-of-stake blockchains.”

Commenting on the recent partnership, Genevois said that Aleph.im has played a key role in the decentralization of the “storage of the Digits’ video asset and metadata.” If it was not for Aleph.im, they would have stored NFT metadata on centralized servers or via IPFS, a user-operated file-sharing network.

“Our main objective with Ubisoft Quartz is to showcase the true value of decentralization to our players.”

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NFTs: The Metaverse Economy

NFTs, short for non-fungible tokens, are largely considered as a deed of ownership to a provably unique digital item. However, in the metaverse, they are expected to play a much more colorful role. For one, NFTs would be the backbone of the metaverse economy, enabling authentication of possessions, property, and even identity. 

When users make a foray into the metaverse, the first thing that stands out is that everyone is represented by a digital avatar. However, no one would be able to copy/paste those digital avatars in the metaverse. That is because each NFT is secured by a cryptographic key, making it even undestroyable.

While NFTs have been making headlines with their multi-million dollar sales, their true significance lies in their immutable nature, meaning that no one can change their traits or specifications. Eric Anziani, COO of Crypto.com, said:

“NFTs really started initially with the digital art side. But it’s going to be a lot more powerful. It will be the tool that represents any digital type of assets in virtual worlds going forward. So the applications are tremendous.”

Do you support Ubisoft’s move to resume its NFT plans? Let us know in the comments below.