Sega has decided to step back from the world of blockchain games after initially announcing its plans to sell NFTs in April ’21. Co-Chief Operating Officer Shuji Utsumi revealed in an interview with Bloomberg News that Sega finds blockchain games “boring” and has therefore abandoned its own development in this area. Utsumi also made it clear that the brand’s popular characters will not be connected to NFTs in order to prevent any devaluation of their IP.
However, Sega is still permitting third parties to create NFTs for its lesser-known characters from franchises like Three Kingdoms and Virtua Fighter. The company is willing to explore further involvement in blockchain technology as it matures, but for now, it is maintaining a safe distance.
Utsumi’s views on the matter were quite straightforward, as he stated, “The action in play-to-earn games is boring. What’s the point if games are no fun?”
We fully share this sentiment. While it remains to be seen if Sega will change its stance in the future, Utsumi’s comments certainly give hope to those who are critical of NFTs and blockchain technology.
What do you make of Sega’s current stance on blockchain games? Do you think it will become more invested in the future? Let us know with a comment.
[source bnnbloomberg.ca, via videogameschronicle.com]
Nintendo Life’s resident horror fanatic, when he’s not knee-deep in Resident Evil and Silent Hill lore, Ollie likes to dive into a good horror book while nursing a lovely cup of tea. He also enjoys long walks and listens to everything from Motorhead to BB King.