Tim Sweeney, CEO and co-founder of the company, stated that “Stores and operating systems makers should not interfere by forcing their views onto other people.”
Microsoft’s Mojang Studios has announced that it will soon prohibit NFTs from community-run Minecraft server servers. According to the CEO of Epic Games Store, the company doesn’t intend on adopting a similar unilateral approach against NFTs within games.
Yesterday, a Twitter user asked Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney about following Minecraft’s lead. “It would be really nice to hear the same opinion from Epic Games Store,” wrote DicklessRichard and tagged Sweney. “Please remove every last game from the store.”
This is the position taken by Steam, the largest PC gaming platform, who declared its own ban on NFTs or blockchain tech last October. The Epic Games Store responded and stated that it would allow NFT-games. A few such games have since been announced. In his reply last night, Sweeney maintained that position.
Sweeney stated that developers should have the freedom to design their games and that you can decide whether or not to play them. “I believe that stores and operating system manufacturers shouldn’t be able to force their views on others. We won’t.
An NFT (blockchain token) is a deed to ownership that entitles you to a specific item. NFTs can be used to create avatars, weapons and digital land. They also have the ability to store artwork, collectibles and profile photos.
The Epic Games Store, a PC and Mac marketplace, had more than 194 million users by the end of 2021. Gala Games, along with future titles, has made plans to launch its NFT-powered online shooter Grit through the storefront. Mythical Games will also bring Blankos Block Party, its online create-and play game, to the platform.
Epic Games is more than its retail storefront might suggest. Epic Games is also behind Fortnite, the game that made it a huge success and the creator of Unreal Engine software which is used in many other entertainment sectors.
It also has major metaverse ambitions. Recently raised another $2 billion at an estimated $31.5 billion valuation. The firm intends to “build the Metaverse”. However, Epic Games has not yet used cryptocurrency or blockchain networks in its own games and tools. Other developers can launch NFT-focused games through its marketplace.
Epic’s inability to allow gatekeepers to interfere also applies to its legal challenges against both Apple and Google. These disputes were triggered by the publisher’s desire for in-game currency (VBucks), in Fortnite’s mobile version without giving any tech giant a cut. Epic filed suit against Epic and Fortnite was eventually removed from the Android and iOS stores.
Sweeney has posted other past comments which echo the same ethos as centralized parties or “walled gardens” digital ecosystems. He spoke at a November conference about Epic’s goals for the Metaverse. This is an open-source, interoperable, next-generation 3D internet.
He said, “The metaverse” is a term similar to the internet. It is not possible for any company to own it.
