Published on: 22/07/2022
Square Enix teams up with Enjin to create Final Fantasy VII-themed NFT collectibles
Square Enix has teamed up with Enjin to create Final Fantasy VII-themed digital collectibles in the form of NFTs to celebrate the game’s upcoming 25th anniversary, scheduled to be released in 2023.
The NFTs will be tied to code released alongside physical figurines of Final Fantasy VII characters. Fans can redeem the NFT using the Open Enjin Platform with NFT.io and Enjin Wallet as secondary wallets for users. Enjin Beam will handle the QR code NFT distribution as an alternate method of access.
Final Fantasy VII itself is one of the most iconic landmarks in gaming history, propelling the Japanese Role Playing Game genre to mainstream popularity and success. It has sold over 13 million copies, and the series as a whole averages 2.6 million sales per release.
Square Enix and NFTs
Square Enix believes that NFTs will be key to its future business, being an early investor in blockchain technology. In 2021, Square Enix released a series of NFT stickers based on their Million Arthur series. Even though the series had not seen a release since 2020, the stickers sold out in Japan.
Many producers for its various intellectual properties have also expressed interest in NFT and metaverse technology, such as Final Fantasy producer Yoshinori Kitase, who said, “I’m looking forward to how new technologies like NFT and the Metaverse will change the game industry.”
The producer of the NieR series, Yosuke Saito, also said the following during an interview with Famitsu this year: “I’m really curious about games and projects related to NFTs. New types of games always emerge from new technologies. So I kinda feel like making something NFT-related myself”. Although he added that he “still has many unannounced projects”, and “if it happens” it’ll be when he’s done with them.
About Enjin and its partnership with Square Enix
Enjin is a software platform that enables developers to create NFTs and integrate them into various projects such as games and applications. Enjin is the company behind Efinity, a blockchain for NFTs that serves as a method of securing transactions. Efinity is the platform of choice for the upcoming NFT collectibles that Square Enix will release.
“This partnership marks a coming-of-age phase for digital assets and entertainment; Square Enix, an esteemed developer with iconic intellectual property, is paving the way for the industry. … Enjin can establish the next phase of growth in blockchain entertainment, merging curiosity and creativity,” said Enjin CTO Witek Radomski in July.
Enjin regards the partnership as an excellent opportunity for the industry of blockchain technology as a whole. As for fans of Square Enix games, it emphasized that they will be able to interact with blockchain technology without getting bogged down by technicalities and details.
The company understands that NFTs have a poor reputation on the broader gaming landscape due to scams and environmental issues, which is why its transparency of transactions and ease of use of their platform will work to reduce the mistrust that people have about NFT technology. In order to address environmental concerns, Enjin has signed the Crypto Climate Agreement and is making Efinity a foundation for a carbon-efficient network. It hopes its effort will lead to a sustainable cryptocurrency industry that fans can enjoy and access.
