In a brand new interview with Bloomberg, Sega’s co-Chief Working Officer Shuji Utsumi says the corporate is abandoning plans to develop blockchain video games in the interim. In response to a GDC survey from earlier this 12 months solely 23% of sport builders are focused on utilizing cryptocurrency or blockchain know-how of their video games.
Sega gained’t make blockchain video games however will license some characters for NFTs.
Talking to Bloomberg Information, Utsumi mentioned that Sega is re-evaluating its use of blockchain, crypto, and associated play-to-earn sport mechanics as a result of “The motion in play-to-earn video games is boring, what’s the purpose if video games aren’t any enjoyable?” Whereas it’s shifting away from the usage of blockchain in its top-tier franchises, Sega will permit some characters for use as NFTs, together with Virtua Fighter and Three Kingdoms characters. The corporate can even provide “lesser franchises” to be used in a number of blockchain video games which have but to be introduced.
Though Sega will not embrace blockchain in its most high-profile video games Utsumi, who instructed Bloomberg final month that Sega isn’t focused on any acquisition talks, didn’t rule out revisiting the know-how down the road. He additionally refused to touch upon whether or not blockchain know-how could be utilized in Sega’s mysterious “tremendous sport” slate of big-budget releases scheduled for 2026. Regardless of earlier optimism at Sega about the usage of blockchain and different web3 tech, Utsumi instructed Bloomberg the corporate is now “wanting into whether or not this know-how is basically going to take off on this trade, in any case.”
Regardless of Sega’s hesitance concerning the know-how, different gaming corporations could also be going all in on web3 options. It was not too long ago revealed that Sony patented a system for transferring and buying and selling PlayStation NFTs, exhibiting that console makers might embrace the tech even when builders don’t. Using blockchain and different web3 know-how in video games has been a sore spot for a lot of gamers in recent times, resulting in vital pushback, however it appears it gained’t disappear anytime quickly so long as builders and publishers see potential income in its use.
