Epic Welcomes Blockchain Games When Steam Bans—But Don't Bet On ‘Fortnite’ NFTs
Image via Epic Games and Steam
Valve has banned all games relating to blockchain from its gaming platform, Steam. This includes any and all apps “that issue or allow exchange of cryptocurrencies or NFTs.”
Put simply, this is down to the fact that crypto, NFTs, and everything related to them, carry real-world value. Items carrying value like this aren’t allowed on Steam’s platform.
And where Steam closes the doors, Epic opens another.
On Saturday evening, Tim Sweeney, Epic Games’ founder and CEO, tweeted that the platform was going to be welcoming blockchain games. This is as long as they “follow the relevant laws, disclose their terms, and are age-rated by an appropriate group.”
This might appear to contradict what Sweeney said before just two weeks ago. At the end of September, he stated, also on Twitter, that the company isn’t “touching” NFTs due to the “intractable mix of scams” that have been related to the technology.
However, it just means that Epic won’t be incorporating crypto into its own games—yet, at least. And yes, that means no Fortnite NFTs, for better or for worse.
The Steam ban was revealed by the developer of Age of Rust, a game containing some puzzles that reward players with NFTs when completing them. The mechanic landed the game a notice from Steam saying that it would be kicking “all blockchain games” off the platform.
Community: A few minutes ago, we were notified that @Steam will be kicking *all blockchain games* off the platform, including Age of Rust, because NFTs have value. Behind the scenes, we've had good communication and have been upfront with Steam. #blockchaingames #NFT
— Age of Rust (@SpacePirate_io) October 14, 2021
1/4 pic.twitter.com/W4pR3Xl63q
“While I respect their choice, I fundamentally believe that NFTs and blockchain games are the future,” SpacePirate Games, the game’s developer, states. But, it’s not going to “fight Steam alone” on this, it says.
Unfortunately, it means that Age of Rust and other similar games will have to begin the process of looking for a new home following this new ruling. Maybe Epic?
[via Eurogamer, image via Epic Games and Steam]
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