Square Enix has announced that it will be dropping a collection of Final Fantasy NFTs to mark the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy VII.
Digital Collectibles For Final Fantasy Fans
After much deliberation, the video game company and the creator of the popular Final Fantasy game series, Square Enix, has decided to launch a Final Fantasy NFT collection. Square Enix has partnered up with Enjin to create the collection, which will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Final Fantasy VII game. The digital card collection will be dropped on Enjin’s Enfinity blockchain in 2023. In addition to the digital collectibles, the drop will also feature physical pieces. For example, an action figure of the Cloud Strife character is already up for pre-order. Anyone who buys this ‘Digital Plus’ figure will be able to exchange tickets to redeem a digital certificate of authenticity and a digital version of the figure.
Incentivizing Gaming
There could be some pushback from the gaming community over the NFT collection. A majority of mainstream gamers consider NFTs to be a gimmick, similar to loot boxes and microtransactions. The president of Square Enix, Yosuke Matsuda, addressed the issue in an open letter earlier this year, where he talked at length about how NFTs and cryptocurrencies can impact gaming. He mentioned that the company would be shifting its focus towards NFTs and metaverse gaming.
“With advances in token economies, users will be provided with explicit incentives, thereby resulting not only in greater consistency in their motivation but also creating a tangible upside to their creative efforts…By designing viable token economies into our games, we will enable self-sustaining game growth. It is precisely this sort of ecosystem that lies at the heart of what I refer to as ‘decentralized gaming.’”
Enjin’s Contribution
The decision to model the collection after the popular Final Fantasy VII game has been questioned by many. People are pointing out the irony of creating a highly energy-intensive product inspired by the game where a giant corporation is sucking the life out of the earth and killing the planet. However, Square Enix’s partnership with Enjin indicates that it wants to adopt a more eco-friendly route toward this NFT project. Enjin’s blockchain software uses environmentally friendly solutions to create decentralized gaming products. The company is also focusing on becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
Speaking on the partnership, Enjin CTO Witek Radomsky commented,
“Square Enix, an esteemed developer with iconic intellectual property, is paving the way for the industry. By using Efinity, fans can experience interactive NFTs without even realizing they’re on the blockchain. Enjin can establish the next phase of growth in blockchain entertainment, merging curiosity and creativity.”
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
