Amid the backlash, Square Enix continues the development of its NFT game titled “Symbiogenesis”. Even with the new administration at the video game company’s helm, the idea of incorporating NFT in its games remains a big taboo for most of its legion of dedicated gamers.
The use of NFTs and blockchain technology in the gaming industry has sparked a lot of controversy, especially when applied in the space occupied by traditional PC and console gamers. A significant number of them argue that such an inclusion, which often involves pay-to-win schemes and turns their beloved hobbies into business ventures, detracts from the fundamental nature of gaming.
Despite the negative response, Square Enix continues to push the incorporation of NFTs in its future projects. Symbiogenesis, the first of Square Enix’s NFT-based games, is still in development. As of March 17, its official website is already up and the company plans to go all in to take the project to completion by spring this year.
The Fatal Flaws of NFT Gaming According to Traditional Gamers
The utilization of NFTs and blockchain technologies in the video game industry has been met with constant opposition as it alters the fundamental aspect of entertainment in games. Typically, games are expected to provide players with an immersive virtual world where they can experience captivating narratives and indulge in creative gameplay mechanics.
However, with the implementation of NFTs, games lock essential content behind paywalls, creating a market-driven approach rather than a purely entertaining one. Moreover, the model’s sustainability is questionable as it follows a pay-to-earn scheme, which requires constant cash flow to maintain functionality.
To participate in the game, users are required to purchase NFTs at a substantial cost, making it difficult to earn a profit. The moment the cash flow decreases, the game becomes unsustainable, and the pay-to-earn model crumbles.
Symbiogenesis is Currently a Mess
Square Enix already gave people a glimpse of Symbiogenesis. From the looks of it, their new NFT-based game has an overwhelming focus on NFTs, posing a threat to players’ finances and enjoyment. The game itself is not even polished as its mechanics and graphics appear to have been made by AI based on critics. The consensus is that it is nothing but a cash grab in its present state.
The game features over 10,000 NFTs as characters that players can purchase to unlock quests and progress in the game. However, the game’s design limits players’ ability to proceed with its story without acquiring NFTs, which other players can hold and monopolize, effectively preventing progression unless players are willing to pay exorbitant amounts of money. Additionally, there is a risk of losing everything in the eventual collapse of the in-game economy.
Another thing that got gamers fuming over Square Enix is how the developer decided to abandon its popular titles like Tomb Raider for its NFT cash cow. There were even hopes that dormant franchises like Parasite Eve will be resurrected by the company, but expectations were crushed when it was revealed that it was Symbiogenesis all along. For many, the direction that the video game maker is going right now is contrary to what its loyal fanbase wants.
Final Thoughts
Symbiogenesis is a terrible idea from the get-go that could rob the loyal fanbase of Square Enix of both their money and their love for gaming. The addition of NFTs and blockchain technology in conventional video games is a controversial topic, and the severe opposition of gamers to Symbiogenesis proves it. The basic idea behind old-school gaming is entertainment, and introducing NFTs takes away the very reason games are entertaining.
NFT games aren’t all that bad, but it should be noted that they cater to a different niche of the market. NFT games primarily cater to enterprising individuals, which is something that the hardcore gamers of Square Enix — who are just in to be entertained by the games they buy — are certainly not.