Square Enix Remains Fully Committed to Blockchain Games in 2023 – Destructoid
It is the children who are wrong
Square Enix has kicked off 2023 with an affirmation of its commitment to the controversial and fragile blockchain gaming sector. As noted by Eurogamer, the company’s annual New Year’s newsletter, president Yosuke Matsuda reiterated that the publisher aims to release more blockchain-based games in the future.
“Our group has several blockchain games based on original IPs in development, some of which we announced last year, and we are making preparations that will enable us to unveil even more titles this year,” Matsuda writes. “We are also engaged in global sourcing from an investment perspective and will continue to take stakes in promising businesses whether we find them in Japan or abroad.”
While the blockchain and NFT market has been incredibly turbulent over the past year, resulting in huge losses for investors as well as receiving constant backlash from players in the gaming sphere, Matsuda suggests that all the negative publicity not only didn’t interfere with the company’s plans, but , he writes, may actually be beneficial for the future of the cryptocurrency market.
“Blockchain has been an object of excitement and a source of unease, but with that in the rearview mirror, we hope that blockchain gaming will move into a new stage of growth in 2023,” Matsuda continues. “If this [controversy] turns out to have been a step in a process leading to the creation of rules and a more transparent business environment, it will definitely have been in the best interests of the growth of blockchain entertainment.”
“As I said in last year’s New Year letter, if we consider traditional gaming to have become centralized, then blockchain gaming must operate based on a self-sustaining decentralized model. It’s that concept, that philosophy that I see is the key.”
Elsewhere in the letter, Matsuda reiterates plans to drop titles Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier, (January 11) and Bravely Default: Brilliant Lights (February 28). In addition, Chocobo Racing GP will not receive any more major updates, with Season 5 being the title’s last updated season.
“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our customers for their support and deeply apologize for this announcement.” Matsuda says of these game closures.
Still, at least you have all those sweet blockchain games to look forward to.
Square Enix clearing house, doubles down on blockchain [Eurogamer]
Chris Moyse
Senior Editor – Chris has been playing video games since the 1980s. Former Saturday Night Slam Master. Graduated from Galaxy High with honors. Twitter: @ChrisxMoyse
