Ubisoft becomes the first major publisher to support NFTs

This story about the beginnings of gaming NFTs, boiled down, in 2:48 minutes.

What's the fuss?

NFTs have officially invaded gaming with one of the biggest publishers in the world announcing their landmark crypto program. Don't be too excited, getting your hands on one will be tough. 

The situation

NFTs, or Non-Fungible Tokens, have excited the world over with the ability to officially recognize digital goods ownership.

• For those who are unfamiliar, NFTs represent virtual items (i.e. digital art, digital items, etc.) that are "registered" to the blockchain to indicate authentic ownership.
• This creates a new supply-and-demand driven market for these goods, leading to millions of dollars worth of art sales of works that can literally be copied and pasted normally.

Mega game publisher Ubisoft, responsible for landmark franchises such as Assassin's Creed, announced a NFT-based rewards system called Ubisoft Quartz.

• The platform will offer limited-edition digital items for Ubisoft's games that can be listed and sold on third-party crypto marketplaces.
• Ubisoft Quartz will launch on Dec. 9th starting with items for 2019's Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint, although it will be reconsidered if blockchain tech doesn't improve its environmental footprint.
• Gamers will be rewarded with these special NFTs through gameplay, but only if they sink 600+ hours into the game for arguably the most valuable one.

Boiling it down

It was only a matter of time that NFTs invaded gaming, since the space is primed as a digital loot marketplace already.

• Online games, such as World of Warcraft, have player-driven marketplaces where players can buy or sell their own in-game loot with the potential to make an in-game fortune.
• With the introduction of NFTs, gamers would effectively be able to own their loot in real-life and transfer it to other games, meaning they could make an actual fortune.
• However, gamers are tired of greedy publishers heavily monetizing their games, which is why this announcement has received much backlash.

No doubt this is a future-proofing play, but this may secretly be a ploy to get gamers to actually play Ghost Recon Breakpoint.

• Upon the game's release in late 2019, the game landed with a thud despite a famous actor being attached to the project. 
• The game was a commercial failure as many cited the game as "lifeless" and "boring".

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