Activision-Blizzard recently sent out surveys to gauge gamer reception to integrating non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and cryptocurrency into its games. According to news.bitcoin.com, the move sparked some speculation that the company may be looking to move further into the world of play-to-earn gaming. However, such implications have created mixed feelings among the Blizzard fanbase.
BLIZZARD INCLUDES NFTS IN PLAYER SURVEY
Although the survey/poll wasn’t solely asking people about NFTs, it did mention the topic. Blizzard is one of the first companies to specifically ask its players about NFTs and their thoughts on the matter.
The inclusion of NFTs in the survey could be a sign that Blizzard is seriously considering integrating them into their games. However, it’s important to note that surveys like these are often used to gauge player interest and aren’t necessarily indicative of an upcoming change. With a topic as divisive as gaming NFTs, Blizzard is most likely treading lightly on the matter before fully committing to a decision.
Blizzard isn’t the first company to experiment with NFTs in gaming. The play-to-earn crypto industry has been growing steadily over the past few years, with more and more games popping up that enable players to earn cryptocurrency or other digital assets.
However, these gaming studios are much smaller than Blizzard and don’t have the same reach. If Blizzard were to integrate NFTs into their games, it could have a major impact on the industry and legitimize NFTs in the eyes of mainstream gamers.
According to ign.com, Ubisoft, a major competitor of Blizzard, has already taken steps in the play-to-earn direction. The company recently announced that it was partnering with blockchain platform “Enjin” to create “The Blockchain Game Alliance”.
With Blizzard and Ubisoft both exploring the use of NFTs in gaming, it’s clear that the industry is starting to take notice of the potential of play-to-earn games. It will be interesting to see how Blizzard’s survey pans out and if the company does indeed end up integrating NFTs into its games.
WHAT COULD BLIZZARD NFTS AND P2E MEAN FOR THE INDUSTRY?
If Blizzard does decide to join the likes of “Axie Infinity”, “The Sandbox”, and “Decentraland” in the play-to-earn space, it could have a big impact on the industry.
Blizzard has a large player base for games like “World of Warcraft” and “Overwatch”. If even a small percentage of those players decided to get involved in play-to-earn games, it could lead to a big increase in the adoption of NFTs and cryptocurrencies.
The news of Blizzard surveying players about their thoughts on NFTs and cryptocurrency comes at an interesting time. Just recently, we’ve seen several high-profile companies get involved in the space.
It seems that Blizzard is taking a cautious approach and wants to see how its players feel about these new technologies before deciding if it’s something that they want to pursue.
BLIZZARD NFTS: YE OR NAY?
According to videogameschronicle.com, the notion was debunked by Blizzard’s head, Mike Ybarra. He firmly stated, “No one is doing NFTs”.
As much as some players would love for Blizzard to be the next big company in the play-to-earn space, nothing can be said with complete certainty at this time.
However, this poll could be tied to Activision Blizzard’s future after Microsoft announced a $69 billion acquisition in January.
If the acquisition clears legal hurdles, the future owners may be interested in taking some of Blizzard’s intellectual property to the metaverse, which would explain the appearance of the poll. However, there has been no definitive information about the poll’s provenance and whether it’s tied to Microsoft or not.
Given the recent surge of interest in NFTs and cryptocurrencies, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Blizzard make a move in that direction. Only time will tell what the company decides to do.
WHY BLIZZARD NFTS MIGHT NOT HAPPEN
Blizzard isn’t known for taking risks. The company has built its reputation on releasing high-quality games that appeal to a mass audience. Cryptocurrencies and NFTs are still relatively new and unknown technologies, which Blizzard might be hesitant to get involved with.
Regarding the companies that own Blizzard, they may not be keen on taking risks with the business either. It’s possible that any decisions regarding NFTs and cryptocurrency would have to come from the top-down, which could make it difficult for Blizzard itself to implement these technologies into its games.
Also, Blizzard might not want to implement technology into a game, whose protocols might become outdated in the very near future.
In addition, one of Blizzard’s own senior designers has spoken out against it. In January, Jorge Murillo tweeted, “as a dev on the @PlayOverwatch team, I am strongly against NFTs and will fight to make sure they aren’t integrated into our game”.
Blizzard seems divided on the issues of NFTs and cryptocurrency. While there is interest in learning about demand for the technology, many workers seem to be against it.
Only time will tell if Blizzard decides to take the plunge and integrate NFTs into its games. Until then, we’ll just have to wait and see. However, if the players demand it, Blizzard might just have to listen.
