Gaming giant Ubisoft is launching Ubisoft Quartz, a new platform for players to obtain what it calls “Digits” — essentially non-fungible tokens (NFTs) playable in a mainstream game — according to a company statement.
Fast facts
- The first such NFT will appear in beta with Tom Clancy’s “Ghost Recon Breakpoint” on Ubisoft Connect for Windows PC.
- Digits are collectible in-game vehicles, weapons and pieces of equipment, and players can enjoy the “thrill of owning NFTs that represent unique, collectible pieces of Ubisoft game worlds,” the company said.
- Ubisoft Quartz will be available in beta starting Dec. 9 in the U.S., Canada, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Australia and Brazil. The company plans to air drop free Digits on Dec. 9, 12, and 15, to reward early adopters among players.
- Notably, Ubisoft uses Tezos, a blockchain running on a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, to operate the NFTs. Proof-of-stake blockchains are seen as more environmentally friendly alternatives than proof-of-work blockchains such as Ethereum. Ubisoft became a Tezos validator in April.
- “Energy-efficiency is a key requirement to propel blockchain technology into a future where it can be widely used by millions of players,” Didier Genevois, blockchain technical director of Ubisoft, said in the statement. “We chose Tezos because of its original proof-of-stake network and its leadership on clean NFTs … One transaction on their network uses the same amount of energy as streaming 30 seconds of video, while the previous generation of blockchain networks can consume the same energy required for one year of non-stop streaming.”