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Square Enix Invests in HyperPlay
Square Enix Investment in HyperPlay
Gaming behemoth Square Enix, renowned for iconic franchises like Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts, recently revealed a notable partnership with HyperPlay, a crypto-centric game launcher. This collaboration will see Square Enix introducing its innovative Symbiogenesis game to the platform. The strategic investment in HyperPlay remains shrouded in secrecy, with no specific figures disclosed. However, JacobC.eth, the enigmatic founder of HyperPlay, shared with Decrypt’s GG his perspective on Square Enix as a cutting-edge industry leader with a keen dedication to innovation.
Square Enix’s Blockchain Endeavors
Square Enix’s foray into the blockchain realm dates back several years, marked by various initiatives such as backing the metaverse gaming platform The Sandbox in 2020 and experimenting with NFT stickers and in-game items tied to the iconic Final Fantasy VII series. The pinnacle of this exploration materialized in the launch of Symbiogenesis in the preceding year. Symbiogenesis, an enthralling narrative-driven role-playing experience, revolves around Ethereum NFT-minted characters and tokenized in-game assets on the Ethereum scaling platform Polygon. The inclusion of Symbiogenesis in HyperPlay’s offerings signifies a new chapter in the Square Enix collaboration, with additional surprises hinted at in the recent announcement.
HyperPlay’s Market Innovations
JacobC, formerly associated with the Ethereum wallet MetaMask, shed light on the prevailing challenges hindering traditional gaming platforms from embracing blockchain-based games. He cited conflicting policies and rigid structures that impede the compatibility of composable smart contracts with Web3 technologies and emerging innovations. The association with Square Enix stems from a mutual drive to explore alternative distribution channels, steering clear of monopolistic systems that may not serve the best interests of gamers and developers alike.
“Square Enix is thrilled to forge an investment and partnership alliance with HyperPlay,” remarked Hideaki Uehara, the General Manager of Investment & Business Development Dept. at Square Enix. “We firmly believe that the HyperPlay team has crafted an exceptional product that revolutionizes game distribution and fosters novel business models advantageous to game developers.”
HyperPlay, having secured a substantial $12 million in Series A funding last June, currently showcases an extensive library of over 70 blockchain games, alongside curated selections from prominent platforms like the Epic Games Store and GOG.com.
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