Ubisoft Launches First PvP Blockchain RPG with NFT Characters

A Shady Move by Ubisoft

In a move that seems to reflect an increasingly greedy gaming industry that insists on selling us things no one asked for, Ubisoft has finally released its first-ever PvP blockchain RPG title in stealth, Hero Tactics: The Grimoria Chronicles – complete with playable characters as NFTs that can be purchased with in-game currency or cryptocurrency, as reported by IGN.

Expensive Characters in the Game

The pricing pattern here is noteworthy: the most costly character at launch is the Inquisitor Swift Zealot, which will cost a whopping $63,372.19 in cryptocurrency terms. There are other Champions available as well (2,732 in total), with only one costing tens of thousands ($25.1k for Glowing Beast) and the rest costing $5,000 or less. You can check these and other prices on the game’s official website Market side.

Ubisoft’s Expensive NFT Strategy

Are you willing to spend (literally) thousands of dollars on a video game? Ubisoft seems intent on finding out — though admittedly the costs of producing any of these multi-thousand-dollar NFTs are nowhere near what end users are expected to pay. The outlook for Free-To-Play seems particularly bleak given the augment in gameplay stats that premium players and their premium characters will enjoy in this competitive PvP-only game.

That said, people do indeed spend thousands of dollars on items in other Free-To-Play games like Counter-Strike 2. Unlike “Tactics of champions“, Counter-Strike 2 doesn’t involve pay-to-win mechanics and wisely limits these financial aspects to cosmetics. AAA and AA games have been implementing virtual items that cost real money for over a decade.

NFT Games vs. Traditional F2P Games

A similar scheme with NFTs may have been more acceptable to a broader gaming audience, but NFT games with inflated prices embodying the “pay to win” concept are unlikely to attract players of games like MarvelSnap or Hearthstone, which offer F2P PvP RPG gameplay without the need for playable characters at exorbitant prices.

Perhaps Ubisoft is hoping that a few true NFT supporters will participate in the game, despite the high prices. Most likely, development began before NFTs lost 95% of their market value last year, but Ubisoft still considered the game as part of their NFT initiative in July.

Other NFT Games and Business Models

Aside from this game, there are many other blockchain/web3 games built around NFTs with a decent variety of genres. The overall business model is similar, however, and unless you’re a true NFT aficionado, there’s little reason to get involved with these titles compared to conventional F2P games.

While these F2P games often resemble gambling in their business models, at least they have a larger audience and often more room for profit.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Ubisoft’s foray into the world of NFTs and high-priced playable characters may not be well-received by all gamers. The landscape of gaming is evolving, and the integration of blockchain technology and NFTs is sure to spark debates and discussions in the industry.

FAQs

Q: Are all playable characters in Hero Tactics: The Grimoria Chronicles NFTs?

A: Yes, all playable characters in the game can be purchased as NFTs using in-game currency or cryptocurrency.

Q: Are NFTs common in other Free-To-Play games?

A: No, NFTs are not common in traditional Free-To-Play games, where virtual items are usually obtained through gameplay rather than purchase.

Q: Will Ubisoft’s NFT strategy impact the gaming industry as a whole?

A: It’s uncertain how Ubisoft’s NFT strategy will influence the gaming industry, but it certainly raises questions about the future of gaming monetization.

Credit: herosweb.com