Ubisoft, the video game publisher responsible for popular franchises like Assassin’s Creed and Just Dance, continues to push for innovation in the Web3 space. The company’s latest foray into the world of crypto is the release of Rabbids NFT avatars for The Sandbox.
Quick Take:
- Ubisoft is exploring the potential of NFTs and Web3 technology, despite controversy in gaming.
- The Sandbox is a key player in the NFT gaming space, incorporating NFTs into its ecosystem.
- NFTs in The Sandbox serve as tools for in-game benefits, highlighting their potential for enhancing gameplay and providing unique experiences.
Rabbids NFT: What You Need To Know?
Yesterday, Ubisoft launched the sale of 2,066 Rabbids avatars through Polygon, an Ethereum scaling network, at a price of 100 SAND each (approximately $78). These NFTs come in various designs themed around the Lunar New Year in celebration of the upcoming Year of the Rabbit in 2023.
Initially, the sale was only available to users on an allowlist, with the public sale set to begin on Wednesday. Moreover, The Sandbox plans to launch a Rabbids gaming world with a limited number of playable experiences on February 28, where the Rabbids avatars will play a crucial role.
Ubisoft Forges Ahead Web3 Exploration Despite Gaming Community Backlash
Ubisoft’s interest in NFTs and Web3 is not new. In 2018, the company designed a prototype NFT game named HashCraft, similar to Minecraft, but it was eventually abandoned. However, Ubisoft continued to explore the possibilities of NFTs and partnered with Web3 fantasy sports venture Sorare to create One Shot League, which used pre-existing Ethereum NFT soccer player cards.
Ubisoft also introduced Tezos-based NFTs to the PC edition of Ghost Recon Breakpoint, connecting NFT assets with a traditional video game that lacked NFT capabilities.
Basically, the launch of “Quartz” NFTs allowed players to collect and exchange unique weapons and equipment for the team-based shooter. Although, the project struggled to generate significant demand in the secondary market.
Despite the controversy surrounding NFTs in gaming, Ubisoft has persisted in venturing into the Web3 space. In September 2022, Ubisoft’s CEO, Yves Guillemot, declared that the company was still exploring the possibilities of Web3 deployment. Also, Ubisoft acknowledged that Quartz NFTs were an ongoing project.
Ubisoft has also made investments in companies such as metaverse investment firm Animoca Brands and game manufacturer Horizon. In addition, the company joined forces with cloud storage startup Aleph.im to create fully decentralized smart contracts on Tezos.
Finally, Ubisoft’s introduction of Rabbids NFT avatars for The Sandbox is another example of the company’s continued commitment to Web3 and NFTs.
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