Gamdom: A quick look at Square Enix in blockchain gaming

Square Enix is currently one of the most prominent game developers to join the blockchain gaming community. They recently released Symbiogenesis (2023), an art collection game with a story progressing from the collaborative efforts of its players. President Takashi Kiryu announces that the company is invested in this direction. 

How far is Square Enix delving into blockchain game development? That’s the most interesting question the world has right now and it’s in a promising light for those looking forward to more innovations. President and representative director, Takashi Kiryu, has stated Square Enix’s dedication to the following:

• Generative AI
• XR in gaming
• Blockchain Entertainment
   

Square Enix is one of the best in the game development industry with a reputation built on intellectual properties (IP) like Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger, and AdventureQuest. However, it is believed that none of these will be on Square Enix blockchain entertainment anytime soon. The company is merely focused on establishing a new IP, starting with Symbiogenesis. 

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President Takashi Kiryu’s reflection on 2023 rapid AI development

In the 2024 New Year’s letter, Kiryu addressed his excitement over technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and Web3. These are keys to Square Enix blockchain entertainment that former president and representative director, Yosuke Matsuda envisioned. 

There is much excitement surrounding AI generation tools throughout 2024. It started with ChatGPT, a language program capable of writing, translating, and engaging in conversation-like responses. It has proven useful not only in textual tasks but also in creating images, videos, and music which can help reshape Square Enix’s creative possibilities. 

Game development is largely hindered by the teams’ limits as human beings. There can only be so many concepts made that not only cost fortunes to fund but also time to analyse. With generative AI, these can be made cheaper and faster while also guiding hundreds of creatives in one direction. The president also notes that it can help programming the same way.

What is extended reality (XR)?

Extended reality (XR) is a term covering both virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). It’s not directly dependent on blockchain technology but it’s a field that many developers are also looking into to make innovative gameplay elements. That’s the case for the Metaverse, a virtual built using non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as assets. 

What excites Kiryu about this field is how fast it has grown over the past months. In 2023, the world saw new VR hardware and AR technology adoption in many industries. The most notable of which is in the field of architecture where conversion of real-world elements into digital content was helpful. 

Kiryu noted that this kind of technology can help artists make faster realistic in-game content for starters. This can be the foundation for Square Enix blockchain games and traditional releases. It would be especially helpful with generative AI for a variety of products, giving teams the potential to work more efficiently and with less cost.

How can AI influence XR gaming?

Generative AI is about tools that use artificial intelligence to create content following instructions using word prompts. These tools were prevalent in 2023 and are expected to be better and commercially available in 2024. Here are some exciting examples that gained worldwide fame:

• ChatGPT: This is the first text-based language learning AI to become mainstream. Give it clear instructions using text and it can respond with a concise and easy-to-understand answer. It is also used as the foundation for other tools, allowing AI to follow text prompts as accurately as possible. 
• Midjourney: This generative AI tool is designed for creating visual arts. Type in an instruction like in ChatGPT and it will create artwork following that description. Images made this way are stunning because they are trained from talented artists' works. Square Enix uses it in an upcoming shooter game titled ‘Foamstars’ to be released in 2024, resulting in vibrant visuals for their game with a fun premise. 
   

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The future of generative AI is still uncertain as the technology is young. However, there have been many cases in which it was used in media entertainment like animations and marketing. It needs more polish but the list of potential applications is steadily expanding. 

Square Enix's flagship blockchain game—Symbiogenesis

Symbiogenesis is Square Enix’s first attempt at making a blockchain-based video game. It’s a new IP focusing on a story-driven survival horror adventure in a fictional universe. The main feature of the game revolves around 10,000 unique Square Enix NFT characters. Each one has a unique art and story as well as serving a special function of being playable in Symbiogenesis.

On top of the art collection element, Symbiogenesis also aims to push the limits of character-driven storytelling by making a collaborative affair. Every player is a citizen in the setting who can collect quest items and complete tasks to uncover clues progressing the story. Everyone works together to drive the story forward across 6 chapters. 

The 10,000 NFT characters aren’t available at the start. They are introduced in groups that are unlockable with each chapter completed. Players can play for free so there is no true limit to how many people can join Symbiogenesis. However, crucial story beats can only be unlocked using fragments hidden in the 10,000 unique characters. 

Symbiogenesis is playable on Google Chrome on all devices, including desktop and mobile devices. This concept sharply contrasts with other companies delving into blockchain entertainment. While others are developing metaverse casinos or art trading, Square Enix crypto investment delivers a strong narrative and a new way to play video games.

What’s next for Square Enix NFT gaming?

The future is promising for blockchain gaming thanks to numerous companies investing in it. Many developers with talent and experience in the industry are trying out new ideas and most of it is possible thanks to NFTs and crypto. No other game platform can create the same experience as Symbiogenesis, an art collection game where players can work together to advance the story. 

On top of that, there are also the Metaverses and play-to-earn (P2E) among the most exciting prospects. To answer the question ‘what is Square Enix and blockchain new project?’, there’s still no news. Their latest game, Foamstars, is using only AI tools like Midjourney. As for blockchain entertainment, Gamdom eagerly awaits more. 

The best news about Square Enix’s endeavours is their use of Snapdragon Spaces XR Developer Platform. It is a tool made for creating transformative AR experiences, pushing the limits of creativity. This is given to the company’s Advanced Technologies Division (ATD) who are leveraging it for the coming years. 

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