EA CEO Andrew Wilson appeared to reverse his stance on NFTs on Tuesday’s earnings call, saying it’s not something the company is promoting right now. Just three months ago, Wilson called NFTs and the broader blockchain gaming market the future of our industry.
I believe that collectability will continue to be an important part of our industry and the games and experiences we offer players. Whether this is part of the NFT blockchain remains to be seen. I think the way we think about it is that we Want to provide the best possible player experience. So we’ll evaluate it over time, but right now, that’s not something we’re pushing. Wilson, in response to a question about any potential investment in NFTs or blockchain games, Says.
During Wilson’s last earnings call in November, he sounded more confident about the prospect of a combination of cryptocurrency and gaming. “I think collectible digital content will play a meaningful role in our future in the context of the games we create and the live services we provide,” Wilson said at the time. “So, it’s too early to say that, but I think we’re in a really good position and we should expect us to think more innovatively and creatively about this as we go forward.”
While industry investment in blockchain games and NFT-related gaming companies has risen sharply in recent months, many players, developers, and critics have spoken out against these technologies because of their environmental impact and the inclusion of financial scams, fraud, and Other forms of consumer exploitation risks.
There have also been some obvious controversies in the industry surrounding game NFTs, including the “Bugs of War” publisher Team17, which reversed plans to launch digital collectibles for the series just one day later after the extreme response.