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Gamefi Project Oasys Aims to Grow Blockchain Gaming in Japan Through YGG Partnership

Gamefi Project Oasys Aims to Grow Blockchain Gaming in Japan Through YGG PartnershipOasys, a gaming-oriented, Japan-based Web3 project, is partnering with YGG, a blockchain gaming guild, to grow blockchain gaming in Japan. The partnership encompasses the use of YGG resources to promote gaming projects built on top of the Oasys ecosystem, giving developers from all over the world an opportunity to get into Japan’s gaming market. Oasys […]

Vanguard CEO Salim Ramji Sticks to Firm’s Anti-Crypto Stance, No Plans for Bitcoin ETF

Gamefi-Focused Oasys Blockchain Launches Mainnet With Support of Sega, Ubisoft, and Bandai Namco

Gamefi-Focused Oasys Blockchain Launches Mainnet With Support of Sega, Ubisoft, and Bandai NamcoOasys, a Web3, EVM-compatible, gamefi-focused blockchain project, launched the first phase of its mainnet on October 25th. The company, which has gathered support from AAA gaming companies such as Sega, Ubisoft, and Bandai Namco, will start validating blocks from all nodes in preparation for its definitive activation slated to happen on November 8th. Oasys Launches […]

Vanguard CEO Salim Ramji Sticks to Firm’s Anti-Crypto Stance, No Plans for Bitcoin ETF

Konami Launches Metaverse Push With Web3 Focused Hiring Spree

Konami Launches Metaverse Push With Web3 Focused Hiring SpreeKonami, one of the most influential Japanese game development and publishing companies, has announced it will be introducing Web3 and metaverse technologies into its games. The company opened 13 different job openings for three departments that will be responsible for developing the new projects to spearhead Konami’s latest business strategy. Konami to Enter Metaverse and […]

Vanguard CEO Salim Ramji Sticks to Firm’s Anti-Crypto Stance, No Plans for Bitcoin ETF

Bandai Namco, SEGA among gaming giants eyeing blockchain gaming

Big gaming firms are working to spur mainstream blockchain gaming adoption, and don’t want to “change that policy” even if it causes pushback from some.

Japanese gaming giants are positioning for mainstream blockchain game adoption, and will not be swayed by the section of gamers that are against crypto and nonfungible tokens (NFTs), an exec from the Oasys blockchain project told Cointelegraph.

Speaking to Cointelegraph at the 2022 Tokyo Games Show last week, Oasys Representative Director Ryo Matsubara emphasized that the project’s big-name partners such as Bandai Namco, Sega and Square Enix are not just jumping on the crypto bandwagon —there's a long-term vision for blockchain-based Play-to-Earn (P2E) gaming:

"We have a shared vision about blockchain at the executive level. They don't [want to] change that policy. They really understand the future adoption of blockchain. They're not thinking about, you know, just the revenue, they want to create the next future [of gaming].”

Bandai Namco has developed beloved titles such as Tekken and Pac-Man, Sega’s most famous title is generally seen as Sonic the Hedgehog, while Square Enix is the developer of the widely popular Final Fantasy franchise.

Questioned whether these companies are looking to integrate blockchain tech with their current gaming franchises, Matsubara suggested that they are initially looking at developing brand new blockchain games instead.

He noted that as this is a completely “new model” of gaming, it needs more time to mature before these big companies will look at broader blockchain integrations with traditional games.

“When the model is fixed, becomes sustainable and successful, then strong [popular] IP will be added,” he said.

Looking at what needs to be improved in blockchain gaming, Matsubara noted that a “big problem” so far is that many projects are too dependent on the price of in-game tokens. As a result, there is more demand for “speculation” rather than the gameplay itself.

He went on to note that there will be an “adjustment” over time as projects work to develop genuine hype for the games themselves, most likely by improving the overall gaming experience.

Related: Japanese gov't issues NFTs to reward local authorities' work

This echoed similar sentiments to the lead community manager at Australia-based game developer and Animoca Brands subsidiary Blowfish Studios Luke Sillay, who was also at the event.

During an interview with Cointelegraph, Sillay emphasized that more people want games that are actually “fun to play” rather than just a hustle to earn tokens.

Oasys’ proof-of-stake blockchain is geared directly towards gaming and is tentatively set for an official mainnet launch in the remaining months of this year. Matsubara also hinted that games from its big-name partners will likely be announced next year.

Looking outside Japan, major western gaming companies such as Fortnite developers Epic Games have increased exposure to blockchain gaming of late. Last week the Epic Games store listed a new free-to-play NFT game called Blankos Block Party by Mythical Games.

The move follows comments from Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney in July, in which he stated that his company “definitely” wouldn’t follow Microsoft’s Minecraft in banning NFT integrations in games.

Vanguard CEO Salim Ramji Sticks to Firm’s Anti-Crypto Stance, No Plans for Bitcoin ETF

Square Enix Exploring Blockchain Game Development as Part of Oasys Project Partnership

Square Enix Exploring Blockchain Game Development as Part of Oasys Project PartnershipSquare Enix, one of the biggest Japan-based gaming companies, has inked a partnership with Oasys, a Web3-oriented blockchain project. As part of this partnership, Square Enix will be part of the first 21 validators of the Oasys network, and will explore new possibilities regarding developing blockchain games using this decentralized tech, including user-generated contributions. Square […]

Vanguard CEO Salim Ramji Sticks to Firm’s Anti-Crypto Stance, No Plans for Bitcoin ETF

Sega Hints at the Inclusion of NFT and Metaverse Elements in Its ‘Super Game’ Proposal

Sega Hints at the Inclusion of NFT and Metaverse Elements in Its ‘Super Game’ ProposalSega, the renowned game development company based in Japan, has hinted at the use of NFT (non-fungible token) and metaverse elements in its new game proposal. Dubbed “Super Game,” this new framework includes a series of AAA games that will use the new and existing IP (intellectual property) of the company to innovate using Sega’s […]

Vanguard CEO Salim Ramji Sticks to Firm’s Anti-Crypto Stance, No Plans for Bitcoin ETF

Bandai Namco Announces Gundam Themed Metaverse

Bandai Namco Announces Gundam Themed MetaverseBandai Namco, a game developer and publishing company involved in the production of toys from several intellectual properties (IPs), has revealed more information about its $130-million metaverse gambit. The company says this new initiative will be based on its Gundam IP, being one of the first instances in the announced IP Axis strategy of the […]

Vanguard CEO Salim Ramji Sticks to Firm’s Anti-Crypto Stance, No Plans for Bitcoin ETF

YGG-backed Oasys blockchain hopes to take P2E gaming mainstream

“Gaming is the best use case the world has ever seen for blockchain and I believe we will see 10 million wallets interacting with blockchain games before the end of this year,” said Oasys founding member Gabby Dizon.

The team behind the new gaming-focused proof-of-stake blockchain Oasys say that it’s been designed to increase mainstream play-to-earn (P2E) adoption.

The Singapore-based firm (Oasys PTE. LTD) behind the new chain touts its scalability, eco-friendly PoS blockchain, “zero gas fee experience” and the portability of digital assets between different projects built on the blockchain as key drawcards for developers and users.

The founding team includes a host of names from top crypto and gaming firms including Bandai Namco Research president and CEO Hajime Nakatani, Sega Corporation co-COO Shuji Utsumi, double.jump.tokyo CEO Hironobu Ueno, Thirdverse CEO Hironao Kunimitsu and Yield Guild Games (YGG) co-founder Gabby Dizon.

The Oasys blockchain officially launched on Feb. 7 and has partnered initially with 21 gaming and Web3 tech companies to act as validators, with Dizon’s crypto gaming guild YGG signed on as one of the first.

As part of the launch last week, Sega Corporation’s Utsumi highlighted the importance of building a scalable blockchain gaming ecosystem that also recognizes “the need to have an eco-friendly platform that takes into account important societal and cultural considerations.”

The much debated environmental impacts of proof of work blockchains have been a bone of contention for many in the traditional gaming community, who have pushed back against several firms that have started to make moves into the NFT sector.

Speaking with Cointelegraph, YGG co-founder Dizon echoed Utsumi’s environmental sentiments when he stated that:

“For developers, there will always be trade-offs in choosing the right blockchain to build on and each one is focused on solving different challenges and optimizing certain features. Oasys is focused on improving user experience for gamers through scalability while also reducing environmental impact.”

While Dizon was tight-lipped on any upcoming announcements or partnerships, the YGG co-founder stated that the Oasys team's ties to Japan via its founders would help create “a gateway to the blockchain for major Japanese IP.”

“Japan has always been a world leader in gaming and its cultural influence has had a huge impact in shaping the industry as we know it today,” he said.

Related: Major crypto exchanges eye Asian market amid growing regulatory clarity

Speaking on the blockchain gaming sector in general, Dizon bullishly predicted that the market could see more than a 7X increase on the 1.4 million active wallets that interacted daily with blockchain gaming apps as of late 2021.

“Gaming is the best use case the world has ever seen for blockchain and I believe we will see 10 million wallets interacting with blockchain games before the end of this year,” he said.

Oasys head of marketing Kokushi Hattori said that the company expects numerous mainstream gaming companies to launch P2E games in 2022, and its gaming blockchain was developed to be at the forefront of the “explosive growth” of the sector:

“To realize that prediction, Oasys decided to lead rather than follow and optimize itself and its architecture to support mainstream adoption starting with gamers and ending with consumer users.”

“In the near short term, our main focus will be to attract game developers, content creators and gamers to start building early adoption among the gaming community so gamers can connect, create and play within the Metaverse,” he added.

Vanguard CEO Salim Ramji Sticks to Firm’s Anti-Crypto Stance, No Plans for Bitcoin ETF

Bandai Namco to Invest $130 Million in Building Its Own IP Metaverse

Bandai Namco to Invest 0 Million in Building Its Own IP MetaverseBandai Namco, a game development and publishing company, has announced its intention of creating its own metaverse to increase the engagement fans have with the brand. The strategy was announced during the reveal of its new mid-term plan, which outlines the roadmap of the company for the next three years. The company expects to spend […]

Vanguard CEO Salim Ramji Sticks to Firm’s Anti-Crypto Stance, No Plans for Bitcoin ETF