Square Enix, a leading Japanese game publisher, has announced a strategic partnership with PC gaming platform Elixir to explore the world of blockchain technology and Web3 gaming. The goal of this alliance is to expand the boundaries of their traditional offerings and promote the adoption of Web3 games among mainstream gamers.
Hideaki Uehara, Square Enix’s Director of Business Development, stated that this partnership with Elixir Games is another step towards exploring the potential of decentralized gaming in the Web3 space. While the specific details of their collaboration have not been disclosed, it is expected that Square Enix will leverage Elixir’s success in the Web3 gaming sector. Earlier this year, Elixir integrated the Epic Games Store on its platform to bring together traditional and blockchain-based games.
Carlos Roldan, CEO of Elixir, expressed his excitement about the partnership and noted that 2023 has already witnessed more industry leaders entering the space with impactful projects. Elixir has made significant progress in blockchain-based gaming, offering users a variety of MMORPG titles on distributed ledgers such as Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, and BNB.
Square Enix has previously demonstrated its commitment to Web3 gaming. In 2020, the company led an investment round for the metaverse game The Sandbox and has released multiple blockchain games under its brand. Yosuke Matsuda, the president of Square Enix, has consistently emphasized in his annual letters to shareholders that the company will continue to explore the world of Web3 gaming, recognizing it as a significant trend in the industry.
However, not all traditional game publishers have embraced the blockchain trend. Mojang Studios, the developers of Minecraft, have banned non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on their platform, citing conflicts with the game’s policies. They argue that the speculation surrounding digital collectibles promotes profiteering, which goes against the long-term enjoyment and success of players. Similarly, Rockstar Games has prohibited NFTs on all fan-operated servers, leading popular rapper Lil Durk to shut down his role-playing server. OTF Gaming expressed disappointment, stating that they have no choice but to comply with Rockstar Games’ demands and work towards finding a resolution.
