Ubisoft Released an NFT Game with High Hopes but Low Odds

Ubisoft, one of the biggest game developers, has unexpectedly launched a new NFT game, Champions Tactics: Grimoria Chronicles. The release happened with minimal fanfare and without serious marketing support on October 31, slightly delayed from its planned October 23 date. This release comes two years after the company’s failed attempt to introduce NFTs into Ghost Recon: Breakpoint and just a week after announcing the disbanding of the team behind Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Has Ubisoft learned from its mistakes? Let’s find out.

A New Game, Old Methods

According to the official website, Champions Tactics is a PC-based, turn-based strategy game where players assemble teams of three champions to battle in turn-based combat. Each round begins with a dice roll to determine turn order, and each champion has unique skills and traits that help them win in various team combinations. In theory, these mechanics seem intriguing and familiar. But it’s other elements of the game that raise questions.

NFT Champions and In-Game Purchases

The main “feature” of Champions Tactics is its integration of NFTs on the Oasys blockchain. In-game champions are tokens players can purchase or create by combining existing characters. Entry-level characters start at $7 and can go up to a staggering $63,000, with Ubisoft collecting a 6% commission on every transaction. Currently, there are around 2,700 champions listed on the official marketplace.

Additionally, Ubisoft introduces a VIP status that increases with the number of champions a player owns, enhancing in-game rewards. There’s also an exclusive line of “warlord” NFTs, which provide access to “special events” and additional in-game bonuses, including the ability to use the character as an avatar.

Player Reactions

According to The Verge, despite some interesting gameplay mechanics, Champions Tactics resembles typical mobile gacha games, which manage to succeed without NFTs.

Pros:

• Engaging mechanics for strategy enthusiasts;
• An appealing system of team combat and tactical decisions;
• Potential interest for NFT collectors and investors.

Cons:

• Heavy focus on NFTs, leading to mixed reactions from players;
• High prices for NFT characters;
• VIP status system incentivizing increased spending;
• General low player interest in NFTs in gaming.

It seems that Ubisoft is aiming to find a balance between innovation and player expectations. Yet in the case of Champions Tactics: Grimoria Chronicles, development costs may not be justified if the game fails to draw substantial attention and player interest in the near future.