Ubisoft is making a move to integrate blockchain-powered collectibles into one of its worst performing games. The decision was made to try and attract new players, but the company isn’t expecting too much from it.
The “live service games” are the most popular games that have a live component to them. Ubisoft is injecting Tezos-based NFTs into one of its worst “live service” games.
Quartz, Ubisoft’s new platform, will let users to earn, acquire, and trade non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in the form of so-called Digits—”the first NFTs playable in AAA games and operating on energy-efficient technology,” according to the firm.
“Each Digit is a high-quality asset and a one-of-a-kind, collectable piece of the Ubisoft universe,” the business said. “On December 9, 12, and 15, early adopters will get the first three Digits for free.”
Ubisoft Quartz is a new game by Ubisoft. In Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, we’re delivering the first energy-efficient NFTs to a AAA game!
From December 9th, you may try it out in the beta with three free cosmetic drops and learn more here: pic.twitter.com/owSFE2ALuS https://t.co/ysEoYUI4HY pic.twitter.com/ysEoYUI4HY
December 7, 2021 — Ubisoft (@Ubisoft)
For its NFT premiere, the business has picked Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint, a “live service” shooter that was nearly universally panned at release for its technical difficulties and profusion of microtransactions.
NFTs collide with mainstream gaming
NFTs are a sort of non-transferable, cryptographically unique token that cannot be duplicated or forged. They became highly popular among collectors as a result of these attributes, and their values may reach tens of millions of dollars.
Ubisoft’s Digits, for their part, will appear in the company’s games as a variety of cosmetic objects that players can use to customize the look of their characters, weapons, or vehicles, for example.
“With the increased control granted to players to utilize their Digits or trade them with others in a safe and secure environment, Ubisoft Quartz enables new and interesting ways for our community to participate with Ghost Recon Breakpoint,” said Baptiste Chardon, Ubisoft’s blockchain product director.
Tezos (XTZ), an open-source decentralized blockchain based on a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus system, will be used by Digits, according to the statement. PoS blockchains are far less computationally and energy-intensive than proof-of-work (PoW) networks like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
“We’ve been focused on the discovery of this energy-efficient alternative, which has led us to utilize Tezos, Ubisoft Quartz’s Proof-of-Stake blockchain platform,” Didier Genevois, blockchain technical director, said. “When compared to Proof-of-Work protocols, this sort of blockchain delivers the same outcomes while using substantially less energy.”
“A transaction on Tezos is similar to 30 seconds of video streaming,” he said, “but a transaction on Bitcoin is equivalent to one year of video streaming!”
“Ubisoft Quartz is a new experience that will coexist with existing systems, including Ghost Recon Breakpoint’s present in-game shop.” Keep in mind that the first Digits will be available for free to our gamers,” Chardon noted.
The breaking point of gamers
Despite Chardon’s assurance that “Digits are cosmetics only” and “would not alter the experience for our users,” reactions on Twitter revealed that many average gamers don’t share Ubisoft’s excitement for new monetization options.
This stance is reasonable, given Ubisoft’s recent reputation for implementing problematic revenue methods in its games. Aside from cosmetics, the firm is noted for providing a plethora of “boosters” that have apparently become required in the majority of its initiatives.
Ubisoft chiming in with another more reason why I believe “AAA” developers should fold and the industry heal. Unfinished games strewn around, greed running wild, and no longer caring about their quality, they all need to go so we can reset everything.
December 8, 2021 — Captain Coco (@ImNovaG)
Many people accuse Ubisoft of purposefully creating “issues” in popular series like Assassin’s Creed or Far Cry, such as sluggish and boring growth and character leveling, in order to offer a “solution” in the form of experience or in-game cash boosters.
In light of this, it’s unsurprising that Ubisoft’s introduction of NFTs, which many see as speculative and predatory, was welcomed with mistrust.
“None of this improves videogames in any way.” It doesn’t make them more fascinating or enjoyable. It simply transforms them into fictitious financial instruments, distorting their essential design and exposes them to market pressures that will benefit few while excluding and disappointing the majority. Ralph Panebianco, best known on YouTube as SkillUp, an Australian video game critic, said, “This stinks.”
None of this improves the quality of video games. It doesn’t make them more fascinating or enjoyable. It simply transforms them into fictitious financial instruments, distorting their essential design and exposes them to market pressures that will benefit few while excluding and disappointing the majority. This is terrible. https://t.co/M6x1Gy5vSS
December 7, 2021 — Skill Up (@SkillUpYT)
It didn’t help things that Ubisoft chose Breakpoint as the first project to use Digits. The game, which was released two years ago, has a Metacritic score of 58 out of 100, with Time Magazine’s Matthew Gault declaring it “the worst video game I’ve played in 2019.” Regular users, on the other hand, gave it a far lower overall score of 2.7 out of 10, citing “predatory microtransactions on top of €100 special editions” as a major reason.
“Microtransactions are all over the place.” There is a paywall in front of everything you see. “The game is a farce, charging 50 euros for the Standard Edition (and an absurd 100 euros for the Ultimate Edition), but you have to pay a lot in-game for weapons, cosmetics, and boosters,” one feedbacker said.
On the plus side, it seems that Ubisoft’s entrance into the realm of NFTs has made one set of individuals quite happy: Tezos holders. Simply because the price of XTZ, the blockchain’s native token, has risen sharply in the aftermath of yesterday’s announcement, hovering at $5.61, up 33% on the day. Even so, you can’t win them all.
Newsletter
The most relevant daily news in the worlds of crypto, DeFi, NFTs, and more are summarized here.
Gain a competitive advantage in the cryptoasset market.
As a premium Edge member, you’ll get additional crypto insights and context in every story.
Analyses of the whole chain
Snapshots of prices
a little more context
For just $19 a month, you can become a member right now. Examine all of the advantages.
Watch This Video-
Related Tags
- where to buy nft tokens
- nft collectibles
- where do you buy nfts
More Stories
Aesthetic:1qlg85zsywu= Valentine’s Day Wallpaper: 2024 Trends & Code 1qlg85zsywu [Must-See Designs]
Aesthetic:1mgkjrhsvuo= Roses: A Guide to Capturing Dreamy Floral Photography in 2024
How Do You Get Thousands of Plays on SoundCloud?