Epic Games’ Fortnight is Exploring Blockchain Use For Video Games

Blockchain technology has recently made revolutions in different industries around the globe. It, therefore, isn’t a surprise seeing the blockchain being integrated into the tech-ridden gaming sector. People who are professionally trained play and fight for money and titles as a way of earning a living. Amateurs, on the other hand, buy, chat and sell within the virtual gaming ecosystem. This shows the value the virtual ecosystem bears compared to the tangible and physical ecosystem.

Most of the video games run on paid transactions, yet gamers are unaware and confused on how these transactions are done, who controls the pricing and how the trading of goods is done. Nonetheless, the answers to these questions are nowhere to be found.

The developer of PS4, a widely played video game, had given their view regarding the integration of a blockchain system int the gaming industry. Mr. James Stevenson, Community Director of Insomniac Gaming industry, was to clarify if his company had been doing experiments regarding the blockchain technology. He acknowledges the fact that the company was yet to investigate anything about blockchain technology and that they still operate the traditional way of selling discs.

Blockchain technology allows manufacturers to potentially sell games through the platform as well as acquire the right management of the various copies sold out.

Similarly, there was a concern about lack of actions, a concern being adopted by several developers. On this, Mr. Stevenson applauded that the actual implementation of blockchain in managing data and creating account ledgers is an interesting affair that developers are yet to learn about it fully.

Mr. James was put to the task of responding to the question that most die-hard gamers ask about his company. He acknowledged that most people are interested in the new technology. However, they face a challenge of incorporating the technology in some games such as the Spiderman. He looked forward to seeing the new technology help in maintaining digital rights, gaming currencies as well as the ability to win cash while playing.

The company is waiting for a new game that will implement all of the above features at once. Such a game will allow gamers to do cool things with the blockchain hence more people will take much interest in this technology.

Epic games, created by Fortnite, signed a deal with blockchain for a startup. In his response, Mr. James alluded to the fact that Fortnite is on the cutting edge and they could not let go of such an opportunity, with the alarming speed on how blockchain iterates their content. Fortnite is praised for how they share and interact with the real world, as well as how they are revolutionizing the gaming industry in general.

Here is the quote from James said about Insomniac Games' interest in leveraging blockchain for video games:

“I think it is more, that we have guys who are interested in it from a “this is a new technology” perspective. But I’m not sure we’ve seen a way to apply it directly to a game like Spider-Man at this point. I do think from an industry perspective, it will be interesting to see if it can transform how digital rights are handled…..It’s not just rights, but microtransactions, game currencies or the ability to win money. It’s just waiting for that one big game that implements it all really well. The game that allows you to do something cool with blockchain in a special way and so it catches on like a Rocket League or a Fortnite. Then suddenly everyone will take much more interest.”

It is therefore not shocking if Fortnite developers introduce the first blockchain based video game. This is because of their collaboration with bigger giants in the industry like Epic Games and Insomniac, who are also after the same idea of using blockchain's transparency for transactions.

In a follow up question, James echoed:

“Those guys are on the absolute cutting edge and Epic Games are primed to take advantage of something like blockchain given how quickly they iterate their content. Look at the directions they are taking with storytelling. With Spider-Man, we’re making a very different type of game, but what they’re doing with Fortnite, wow. Look at that shared world and how it is interacting with the real world, as well as how quickly they are changing things in the game; the way they are doing eSports; all the different stuff you can buy.”

Advantages of Blockchain In Gaming

But how does the blockchain intend to change the video game industry? Below are some of the advantages the technology will bring to the industry:

• Battling against hackers

• It will market the industry to a more significant mass of players

• It will encourage more people to invest in the gaming industry