I am so sick of hearing about NFTs and crypto nonsense in gaming, and yet it keeps persisting. Companies like Square Enix and Ubisoft have continued pushing for blockchain-infused bullshit despite pushback from fans. There is no discernable reason for them to be doing this, and yet they keep going. Most recently, Ubisoft has announced a series of limited edition Assassin’s Creed Smart Collectibles that have “digital souls”. The Twitter account for this Smart Collectibles seems to be collecting many excited replies from crypto accounts, but the hidden replies reveal the swathes of fans vocally upset about Ubisoft’s newest NFT venture.The website’s FAQ says that these Collectibles are different from NFTs because they have physical and digital components, and that the physical component is tied to the same blockchain address as the digital ‘soul’ through Authentic Vision and NFC tags. The way it works is that you buy a Pieces of Eden Pass, customise your digital soul traits (which are just an outfit, weapon, and pose) and they ship you a 3D printed figurine. Through the companion app, you can “awaken” your Smart Collectible, complete achievements, level up and “follow recipes” to make more Smart Collectibles. The higher your “rarity tier”, the more traits you have access to, and it looks like you have to pay more for a higher tier. I don’t know, it sounds like Peridot but on the blockchain. When I buy figurines, they’re for looking nice on my shelf, not replicating themselves endlessly in an app.
I don’t have an issue with unique figurines - I personally wouldn’t buy one, but I can see why they’d appeal to people. I just don’t understand why it has to be on the blockchain. This could easily have been done without the involvement of a crypto wallet, but this is just another way Ubisoft is trying to cash in on a dying crypto industry. It’s bizarre that it insists on trying, because Ubisoft Quartz, its last foray into NFTs, failed horribly, making almost no money. It’s pretty clear that Ubisoft’s customers are not interested in any of the crypto bullshit they’re being fed, so who is Ubisoft doing this for? Nobody wants this. Just make limited edition figurines.
It’s not that people rage against NFTs because they’re scared of new technologies. NFTs actively cause harm, from environmental damage to huge losses of money, and a whole lot of scams. We’ve all seen the horror stories and warnings from people who were told to put all their money in NFTs, did so, and then lost it all. It’s not like Ubisoft doesn’t know this, it just doesn’t really care. It’s happy to keep pushing products from a long dead, rightly stigmatised industry in an attempt to pad their bottom line even further.
We shouldn’t be surprised - this is coming from one of the biggest culprits of padding their games with unnecessary grinding to try to squeeze more money out of their players with microtransactions. I’m all for innovation, but blockchain gaming is dead, and it’s sad to see companies keep thrashing this dead horse in an attempt to stand out from their competition, all the while alienating their main player base. I want better from Ubisoft, but I know I’m not going to get it.