Lots of game developers and publishers are embracing NFTs, but now we’ve learned PlatinumGames says NFTs have no positive impact, among other things.
The news that PlatinumGames says NFTs have no positive impact comes via a new interview with new CEO Atsushi Inaba and lead designer Hideki Kamiya (via VGC), where the duo were quizzed on the NFT craze.
“I understand it’s a hot topic right now, and it’s really starting to gain momentum, but the way that it’s gained momentum has been focused on profitability for the company, but with no positive impact on the creators or the users in any sense,” Inaba said. “So that’s frustrating to see happening.”
Inaba suggests that people that have partnered with game companies to promote NFTs have typically done it purely to make money.
“But how does it benefit the user or the creator? If I want to spend my time on something, I want it to benefit making good games,” he said.
While the PlatinumGames CEO is quite skeptical of NFTs, he realizes that they could become as important as regular cryptocurrency over time.
“As content gets more and more digital, I do think that NFT as a concept will gain more importance, but I think that the early adopters are just seeing it as a way to profit as much as possible,” Inaba said. “That’s not something I’m interested in being part of, to be honest.”
Kamiya is even more skeptical and uninterested in NFTs, adding “I have zero interest in this subject.” Kamiya likens himself to more of a consumer, yet he is a businessman and a key member of PlatinumGames.
“It doesn’t have any benefit for users at the moment,” Kamiya said. “In the future, if it’s expanded in a way that has a positive side for users, then maybe I’ll start to be interested in what they do with it. But I’m not seeing that at the moment.”
Both Inaba and Kamiya were asked if it was surprising to see other veteran Japanese game makers like Konami quickly embracing NFTs.
“Not really,” Kamiya said. He then made a slight jab at the legacy publisher, adding, “If it smells like money, Konami’s going to be there in a heartbeat!”
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