Can this partnership salvage Ubisoft from its recent crisis?

Gaming giant Ubisoft has announced a collaboration with Aleph.im, a cross-chain decentralized storage solution, to onboard decentralized storage for its dynamic NFTs on its new blockchain-powered platform Ubisoft Quartz. On 21st December 2021, Aleph.im posted via Twitter that it would join hands with the gaming entity to provide a decentralized storage solution for Ubisoft Quartz in order to further incorporate nonfungible tokens [NFTs] into Ubisoft’s AAA games.

Through the partnership, players would be able to acquire dynamic NFTs called Digits on Quartz that can be utilized in Ubisoft’s Ghost Recon: Breakpoint. Both the parties claim that the partnership would ‘challenge traditionally static NFTs and enable the creation of dynamic NFTs with metadata that evolves as they transfer from player to player.’

Further, the blog noted,

“Aleph.im’s technology enables players to see the names and achievements of previous item owners, as well as item descriptions and videos. The advantages of aleph.im’s system includes securely storing the NFT metadata on a fully decentralized storage network of over 70 nodes, allowing all NFT ownership to be tracked on the Tezos blockchain.  For the first time in a mainstream video game, players will be able to claim playable NFTs that represent in-game assets such as weapons, equipment, and more.”

Ubisoft’s ongoing troubles

Earlier on December 7, 2021, Ubisoft launched its NFT platform and began offering tokens for its Ghost Recon franchise. Didier Genevois, Technical Director, stated in a recent interview that the firm will continue its plans to work with NFTs despite the backlash from the gaming community. Ubisoft’s Quartz announcement was received with negative reactions as a trailer amassed 95% dislikes on YouTube on Dec. 8. Many speculated the energy cost of crypto mining as the reason for the backlash. That being said, others perceived it to be a cash grab.

Its trouble does not end here. The gaming platform is currently facing a severe talent crunch as many of its employees tendered resignations owing to low pay and alleged misconduct. Despite the crisis, the gaming entity does not seem to have plans to abandon its blockchain ambitions and the recent announcement is a testimony to it.

Lipika Deka: Lipika is a crypto-journalist at TWJ. A graduate in economics and finance, she has a keen interest in the political and socio-economic facets of blockchain technology and the cryptocurrency industry.