Square Enix Launches Its First NFT-Based Game

Square Enix, the game developer behind popular titles such as Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Space Invaders, has launched its first NFT game, dubbed Symbiogenesis. The game will be based on the Ethereum blockchain and is aimed to appease Web3 enthusiasts as the company tries to gain a foothold in this fast-evolving space.

Symbiogenesis was announced during a Web3 event held inside the India Game Developers Conference (IDGC) on Thursday.

The game is "set in a self-contained world where a wide cast of characters symbiotically interact." These characters can be collected as NFTs and used for social media profile pictures (PFP) or as characters in a story that takes place in "an alternate world where the player can ’untangle’ a mystery by completing missions that revolve around questions of the monopolization and distribution of resources." With every strategic move you make, the more the story unfolds.

However, the sale of the NFTs is set to take place in the spring of 2023. Symbiogenesis is the result of many years of planning by Square Enix as the company sought to position itself in the Web3 industry. The space is taking shape fast, and it's fueled by digital tokens, with many believing it’s the next iteration of the internet.

Square Enix Has Been Interested In Web3 For A While

Square Enix first showed interest in the space back in 2019 when the company’s president, Yosuke Matsuda, recognized the impact blockchain could have on future games. And he was right, as the blockchain gaming space has seen over 2,000% growth in the past year. Also, top companies within the NFT and blockchain gaming space managed to raise over $10.5 billion in the first half of 2022.

After recognizing blockchain’s potential in 2019, the next year would see Square Enix lead a $2 million investment round in Sandbox in March 2020. And the following year, the company launched digital stickers (NFTs) for Million Arthur in collaboration with Double Jump.Toyko, a Web3 studio.