Epic welcomes blockchain games but don't expect any Fortnite NFTs
Gaming platforms are choosing sides on blockchain, cryptocurrencies and nonfungible tokens (NFTs) within their respective ecosystems.
Following reports of Valve banning crypto and NFT-related games on Steam, its primary competitor, Epic Games Store showed a welcoming attitude for blockchain developers and the use of crypto in video games.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney said that the Epic Games Store would enable games using blockchain technology as long as the developers abide by the relevant laws and disclose their terms. The games need to be age-rated by an appropriate group, Sweeney wrote, adding:
“Though Epic’s not using crypto in our games, we welcome innovation in the areas of technology and finance.”Sweeney told The Verge that when it comes to the use of NFTs in video games, Epic is willing to work with early developers in this field under some limitations as a platform provider. However, he previously made it clear that Epic Games, as a game developer, is not planning to use NFTs in its own products like Fortnite.
The CEO clarified that Epic will not support cryptocurrency transactions through its payment service, so the developers need to use another payment system. Epic Games Store also doesn’t have a plan to integrate blockchain into its client anytime soon.
Epic Games Store, developed by major video game publisher Epic Games, is a platform to purchase and download video games. Launched in 2018, the platform enables users to buy the digital version of a video game via a desktop client and then store it in a library to be downloaded and played whenever they want.
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Sweeney’s commentary follows a blockchain game ban on Steam, a prominent digital video game store. Steam’s updated guideline for game developers states that video games that use blockchain technology and “issue or allow exchange of cryptocurrencies or NFTs” are not allowed on the digital store.
Game developer SpacePirate claimed that “Steam’s point of view is that items have value and they don’t allow items that can have real-world value on their platform.”