The legendary role-playing game (RPG) Final Fantasy VII is to make its blockchain debut in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
Square Enix has joined forces with the blockchain gaming firm Enjin, and will release Final Fantasy NFTs on the Efinity blockchain in 2023.
This product launch by Square Enix will commemorate the 25th anniversary of one of the greatest games ever made, Final Fantasy VII.
What is more, the collection will constitute tangible physical and digital benefits, which are part of a new product line announced by Square Enix.
Two brand new Square Enix products to be launched as NFTs on the blockchain are ‘ART MUSEUM’ and ‘BRING ART’.
Indeed, BRING ART will comprise a single edition, tangible action figure, which comes tied to a digital NFT version of the figure.
As for ART MUSEUM, this product will be physical trading card packs, which also unlock a bespoke digital NFT card.
Bullish about the blockchain
Much to the derision of some traditional gamers, Square Enix has continued to follow through on its plans to explore the Web3 realm.
The firm earlier invested in The Sandbox in 2020 – a metaverse platform built upon the Ethereum blockchain.
Last year, we saw the company release NFT collectibles in Japan based on its Million Arthur game series, using the LINE blockchain platform.
Moreover, just days ago, Square Enix was announced as an investor in Bitcoin gaming startup Zebedee, which raised a $35 million Series B round.
Now, the gaming kingpin is delivering its golden goose to the blockchain and you get the feeling that this is only the beginning.
The company’s official announcement said: “While the company currently focuses the majority of its business on tangible products such as figurines and miscellaneous items, the new BRING ARTS and ARTS MUSEUM products are a part of its early growth into emerging areas of opportunity created by new technologies.”
“In addition to providing consumers with another way to collect items, the company is using technology to safeguard against piracy and counterfeit products by providing them with a digital letter of authenticity for their BRING ARTS action figure collectibles.”
Although Square Enix may be coy to mention the word “NFT”, the gaming giant has been persistent in its interest in “digital letters of authenticity”.
FInally, in November 2023, Final Fantasy VII veteran gamers (like myself) will get to see the hero of the game, Cloud Strife, as an NFT and also as a standard figure.
The standard figure will sell for $130, while the ‘Digital Plus Edition” – including an NFT – will cost $160.
Enjin the chosen ones
Founded in 2009, Enjin has been building a suite of products around its vision to create advanced virtual economies powered by the blockchain.
One of its products is Efinity, a side-chain built on the Polkadot blockchain, which will serve as its infrastructure for the decentralized, cross-chain metaverse.
Furthermore, Enjin plans on letting creators use the Efinity platform to deploy their own infrastructure and build NFT-powered games.
It is entirely fathomable that Square Enix could explore this facility in the near future.
Crucially, Polkadot blockchain uses a proof-of-stake consensus algorithm, which means that it’s a more energy-efficient blockchain.
Hence, Final Fantasy NFTs will be minted on Efinity, allowing Square Enix to mint NFTs in an energy-conscious way.
In fact, Enjin and Square Enix first forged a partnership years ago, as the former hosted websites for online Final Fantasy XIV guilds.
Now, things have come full circle as the two forces are back in business together, bringing the timeless classic, Final Fantasy VII, to the blockchain for its triumphant Web3 debut.
