Square Enix, a developer of video games, is starting a non-fungible token (NFT) project for its "Final Fantasy" series. Square Enix intends to release a set of Final Fantasy VII 25th Anniversary cards and miniatures on Enjin's Efinity blockchain with the aid of NFT infrastructure company Enjin. A commemorative action figure with a ticket to redeem an NFT version of the figure will be available for purchase by customers. While trading card preorders won't be available until later this year, preorders for the figures are currently available. Given that past decisions to incorporate NFTs into games have been met with significant criticism, it is unknown how fans of the brand will receive the initiative. The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. franchise's Ukrainian game developer, G.S.C. Game World, decided against including NFTs in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 after receiving negative feedback from players.
Square Enix to Devote More Resources to Blockchain Technology
Yosuke Matsuda, president of Square Enix, recently hinted that the company might devote more resources to blockchain technologies in 2022. He stated in a letter dated January 1 that the company was considering creating its tokens but qualified his remarks by saying that the NFT area was experiencing instances of irrational trading.
"This, obviously, is not an ideal situation, but I expect to see an eventual right-sizing in digital goods deals as they become more commonplace among the general public, with the value of each available content corrected to their true estimated worth, and I look for them to become as familiar as dealings in physical good," Matsuda said in the letter.
Since then, the company has invested further in blockchain technology, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence and sold $300 million in intellectual property and studios.