Shortly after Steam suddenly banned non-fungible tokens (NFTs), Fortnite publisher Epic Games says it is planning to allow digital collectibles in games sold in its online store, but not in the ones it produces.
The breakthrough comes just weeks after Epic Games chief executive Tim Sweeney trashed NFTs on Twitter: “We're not touching NFTs as the whole field is currently tangled up with an intractable mix of scams, interesting decentralized tech foundations. and scams, ”He said.
As noted by The Verge, Steam's parent company Valve recently added cryptocurrencies to its list of things that shouldn't be posted on its online marketplace.
NFTs in video games come in the form of collectibles such as weapons and skins.
They have real value outside of the game, can be bought and sold with cryptocurrency, and ownership is registered on a blockchain.
No NFT for Fortnite
Epic Games told The Verge last week that it is "open to games that support cryptocurrencies or blockchain-based assets."
By separating his own software from his store, Chief Executive Sweeney has set some rules for third-party developers who want to publish games through the North Carolina-based company.
Developers hoping to sell their NFT-based games via the Epic Games online store will need to:
- manage their own payments (Epic Games said they will not accept cryptocurrencies),
- comply with relevant laws and regulations,
- clearly indicate how the blockchain is used.
Fortnite developers also pointed out that games containing NFT games should be labeled with age-appropriate ratings.
The list of warnings suggests that blockchain games are unlikely to appear in Epic's online store anytime soon, as developers will need time to adjust to the rules.
Not to mention, the games are approved for sale on a case-by-case basis. According to its FAQ section, Epic operates a “Closed Beta” onboarding procedure.
Steam, on the other hand, is less restrictive when it comes to self-publishing. Games can be released after a review period and a $ 100 publishing fee.
The head of Epic Games now welcomes financial innovation
Epic Game's new opening to NFTs follows previous contradictory comments from Chief Executive Tim Sweeney.
In late September, Sweeney publicly rejected a launch for a game that included in-game NFT.
Sweeney said NFTs are rife with scams and suggested that Epic Games will keep blockchain games at a distance. In more recent tweets, Sweeney said, "We welcome innovation in the fields of technology and finance."
Steam is the largest online video game distributor in the world, and Epic Games' apparent rethink for NFT could suggest an offer for better market share.
Epic Games has already cut Steam by 18% on its 70-30 revenue split between developer and publisher. The Epic Games website notes that developers "keep 88% of the revenue from your games instead of 70%".
