© Reuters
Investing.com – The gaming landscape has changed dramatically in recent years, and it looks like developers have found a whole new way to build customer loyalty.
After in-game microtransactions and loot boxes have generated thriving profits, play-to-earn games and NFT-based approaches may soon take hold.
et al. should welcome this development, as a playful approach will increase cryptocurrency acceptance, especially among young people.
Ubisoft (EPA:) is following this hot topic with great interest and is already operating its own “Quartz” NFT marketplace. Animoca Brands is developing the most well-known Metaverse platform, “The Sandbox”, and other major players in the market are also interested in this trend.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:) recognized the potential of the gaming industry decades ago. In addition to internally developed game consoles, the group is increasingly betting on acquisitions. In January, the acquisition of Activision Blizzard Inc (NASDAQ:) was announced for nearly $69 billion. World-famous game titles like Starcraft, Warcraft and Overwatch are lifelong hits and thrill millions of people.
Some Blizzard customers recently had access to a survey. This focused on the interest in NFTs and play-to-earn mechanics.
Blizzard Entertainment President Mike Ybarra has denied involvement in this. However, there seems to be a desire to determine if there is a shift in perception among users when it comes to NFTs and play-to-earn.
According to Nicolas Pouard, strategic vice-president of Ubisoft, the market is not yet ready for this type of innovation:
“We firmly believe that what we have initiated [avec Quartz et Digits] is going in the right direction. I think gamers still don’t understand what a digital secondary market can do for them. For now, due to the current situation and NFT context, players are assuming that, one, it’s destroying the planet and, two, it’s just a tool for speculation. But what we [chez Ubisoft] let’s see first, this is the end game. This is to give players the option to resell their items if they no longer need them or if they no longer want to play the game itself. So it’s really made for them and it has advantages. But they don’t understand it yet.”