A patent released this month by Sony reveals that the company appears to be expanding into the development of NFTs and its own blockchain. This is separate from its PlayStation Stars program, which is already underway and has released new rewards for November.
Although the patent was published this month, it was actually filed a year ago, which makes perfect sense. The NFT landscape was significantly different a year ago, with hopes for the emerging field much higher than they are now. Since then, public opinion and gamer opinion have largely turned against NFTs for reasons ranging from artificial scarcity to environmental impact.
Sony’s vision for NFTs focuses on an area that many others have yet to take advantage of: the eSports scene and all the fame, prestige and fan culture that comes with it. Unlike its PlayStation Stars program with its quests and collectibles, Sony’s NFT patent focuses on specific items players would want for the same reason fans want items associated with sports stars. He compares these NFTs with baseballs signed or batted by baseball stars like Babe Ruth, or similar memorabilia, but involving in-game elements that can be transferred across platforms or blockchains.
The implication is that these NFTs would be the actual digital items used by esports stars or other celebrities in the gaming sphere of influence like famous content creators. A gun used by Dr Disrespect, for example, or another part of his character kit used by the real Dr Disrespect at some point. Perhaps Ninja’s skin in Fortnite with a unique digital signature written by his hand on each of the skins, each being a different NFT. Rather than appealing to the fact that an NFT is a unique thing a gamer can own, Sony is appealing to why gamers would actually want to own it.
Of course, items inspired by professional gamers were already available to players, with a prime example being the skins created for championship teams in League of Legends, so this idea isn’t entirely unique. Plus, with the current attitude towards NFTs, there’s a good chance gamers won’t embrace Sony’s vision.
However, despite the general attitude of aversion, many companies are moving forward with NFT plans. Konami is looking to create an NFT marketplace and if Sony’s plan works, it will have one. Only time will tell if Sony’s plan is a success, but with a currently unique premise, it could at least have a head start in a new NFT market.
