The Japanese entertainment conglomerate and video game company Square Enix is gearing up to launch an NFT collection to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its iconic video game ‘Final Fantasy VII’.
According to the press release, Square Enix is launching the NFT collection in partnership with NFT infrastructure firm Enjin on the eco-friendly Efinity Parachain, a Layer 1 proof-of-stake blockchain.
Users can place pre-orders for the commemorative action figure at the Square Enix Store. A code that can be redeemed for an NFT version of the figure will be included with the deluxe physical product.
The action figure can actually be purchased separately for $130 or in a package with a digital version for $150. Later this year, pre-orders for the 25th-anniversary trading cards will become available. The action figure isn’t scheduled to be released until November 2023.
Witek Radomski, Enjin CTO, noted “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 is committed to carbon-neutral NFTs by 2030, and Efinity is being built on the carbon-efficient network, Polkadot.
“As a signatory of the Crypto Climate Accord, Enjin is striving for a decarbonized and sustainable cryptocurrency industry,” the press release notes.
In May,Square Enix sold its famous franchises, including Tomb Raider, Thief, Deus Ex, and Legacy of Kain, to invest in Blockchain and AI. They’ve all been sold to Embracer Group for $300M.
Even then the gaming community was not too happy about Square Enix showing interest in the blockchain sector. With the news of this NFT collection dropping, gamers who are very sensitive about NFTs are starting to make a fuss.
This is not the first time the gaming community has shown its anger towards NFTs. Last December, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 had to cancel its NFT plans following the huge backlash from the game’s fans and gaming community overall.