Square Enix, known for games like Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts, is taking another step towards implementing blockchain technology in its new game Symbiogenesis. The company announced that the next NFT character mint for the game will occur on the Ethereum layer-2 network Arbitrum. This decision comes after the initial wave of characters was minted on the Ethereum mainnet. By using Arbitrum, Square Enix aims to significantly reduce gas fees, making it more cost-effective for players to participate in the auction.
The move to Arbitrum for Chapter 2 of Symbiogenesis has led to a drastic reduction in gas fees, decreasing costs to about 1/1000 of the previous amount. This change will make it more accessible for players to bid on the 1,500 new NFT characters that will be released in the upcoming auction. Additionally, Square Enix had previously used Polygon, an Ethereum sidechain scaling network, for minting in-game NFT assets. It remains unclear whether the company will continue to utilize Polygon alongside Arbitrum or fully transition to the new network in the future.
Symbiogenesis is a narrative adventure game that revolves around NFTs, offering unique characters and in-game items to players. Only owners of character NFTs can access certain features of the game, adding an exclusive element to the experience. With a total of 10,000 characters planned for release, Square Enix has already faced criticism for the unusual names given to the first 500 Ethereum NFTs, such as “Egg,” “Starvation,” and “Wastebasket.” Despite this, the Ethereum NFTs have garnered interest on secondary marketplaces, with prices starting at under 0.12 ETH.
The upcoming public auction for 1,500 new NFT characters on Arbitrum will begin on May 31 and last for three days, ending on Sunday. Characters will be released in small batches throughout the auction period, allowing players to participate at different times. Square Enix has provided a guide on how to bridge assets to Arbitrum One in preparation for the auction, ensuring a smooth and straightforward process for interested bidders. As the company continues to explore the potential of blockchain technology in gaming, it will be interesting to see how players respond to this innovative approach.
In conclusion, Square Enix’s adoption of the Ethereum layer-2 network Arbitrum for Symbiogenesis marks a significant step in the integration of blockchain technology into the gaming industry. By reducing gas fees and offering new opportunities for players to acquire NFT characters, the company is exploring innovative ways to enhance the gaming experience. With the public auction for 1,500 new NFT characters on Arbitrum set to begin soon, it will be exciting to see how the gaming community responds to this latest development.As Square Enix continues to push boundaries with its blockchain initiatives, it is clear that the intersection of gaming and blockchain technology is a promising frontier for future innovation and creativity.
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