Final Fantasy Developer Talks Metaverse, Reaffirms Further Focus on AI and Blockchain Games

The pandemic has reshaped social conduct in methods unimaginable. In 2022, the tech giants will proceed to push the envelope even additional – into the Metaverse. Just like final yr, NFTs stay on the helm of the cryptocurrency and blockchain revolution. Square Enix President Yosuke Matsuda, for one, understands that the 2 sectors aren’t simply mere buzzwords: as an alternative, they’re right here to remain.

2021: Year 1 of Metaverse and NFTs

Reflecting on the previous yr, Matsuda known as 2021 not solely Metaverse: Year One but in addition NFT: Year One, because the ideas gained important prominence prior to now 12 months. For Metaverse, the exec expects to witness a “meaningful transition” to a enterprise part this yr, entailing a variety of providers.

In a brand new yr’s letter, Matsuda stated the summary idea of Metaverse will quickly take concrete form within the type of product and repair choices. He additionally anticipates that will probably be extra impactful almost about the enterprise facet as effectively.

NFTs, alternatively, have managed to spark world conversations however the speculative overtones proceed. According to Matsuda, this isn’t an excellent state of affairs. However, there could possibly be an “eventual right-sizing in digital goods deals” as they turn out to be extra mainstream and “the value of each available content corrected to their true estimated worth.”

The large information is that Square Enix is strategizing on investing in AI, the cloud, and blockchain video games domains. The President said,

“To address these changes in our business environment, the medium-term business strategy that we unveiled in May 2020 identified AI, the cloud, and blockchain games as new domains on which we should focus our investments, and we have subsequently been aggressive in our R&D efforts and investments in those areas.”

Square Enix has been exploring past the partitions of conventional ideas of gaming AI for fairly a while now. In truth, the gaming firm unveiled SQUARE ENIX AI & ARTS Alchemy Co., Ltd. to pursue developments within the “entertainment AI” sector. It has additionally made a sizeable funding within the Ethereum-based digital world – The Sandbox.

“Decentralized Gaming” is the Word

Needless to say, Blockchain gaming is yet one more sector that’s intertwined with the aforestated ideas. Traditionally, on-line video games are unidirectional in nature, the place the creators present a sport to the customers that play them.

However, the appearance of blockchain has modified this dynamic. Matsuda acknowledged that blockchain video games are nonetheless in infancy however have the potential to facilitate self-sustaining sport development. This is as a result of customers can get pleasure from “explicit incentives” with the developments in token economies.

From only a “play to have fun” strategy, the gaming sector is prone to see customers incomes in addition to contributing. According to Matsuda, blockchain-based tokens will subsequently pave the way in which for a variety of “motivations” that may encourage customers to interact with video games and join with others.

He additionally famous that by constructing viable token economies into the video games, the neighborhood will have the ability to create self-sustaining development. The President additional added,

“It is precisely this sort of ecosystem that lies at the heart of what I refer to as “decentralized gaming,” and I hope that this turns into a serious development in gaming going ahead.”

Featured Image Courtesy of DBLTAP