Amid a bear market that has left millions in a despondent financial state, iconic Japanese video game companies Sega and Konami have continued to express their trust in Web3 technology. Both brands unveiled blockchain-focused projects in October, which the community received with much optimism.
SEGA’s First Web3 Game
Video game giant Sega announced in early October its first-ever Web3 game. The collaborative project is under production with Sega’s partner Double Jump Tokyo, a blockchain-focused startup game dev company.
According to reports, Sega plans to release a Trading Card Game (TCG) on the Oasys Blockchain (Oasys’ builders are based in Japan and Singapore). The company will use Sangokushi Taisen, a game included in Sega’s list of intellectual properties (IPs). Launched in 2005, the title also had arcade versions that the company is still producing in 2022.
Basically, Sangokushi Taisen is a hybrid physical and digital collectible card game. Set in the “Three Kingdoms” period of Chinese history, the project employs a Real-Time Strategy (RTS) style of gameplay.
Recently, Web3 gaming enthusiasts have already started comparing Sangokushi Taisen to Gods Unchained, another well-known TCG that moved to the blockchain and achieved newfound success.
*Click here to read more stories about Gods Unchained.
Konami Hires Talents for Web3
On October 13, Konami Digital Entertainment started recruiting personnel for Web3 and Metaverse development. According to the company, their efforts towards research and development aims to make use of the latest technology for their products. Konami also revealed plans to launch a platform where gamers can trade their in-game Non-Fungible Token (NFT) assets.
The roles that Konami is looking to fill with talents include positions relating to infrastructure development, as well as production, operation, and support. This includes a wide range of job titles from system engineer to director, project manager to intellectual property.
The recent hiring is not Konami’s first foray into the world of Web3 this year. In early January, the entertainment conglomerate celebrated the 35th year of one its flagship games – Castlevania – with an NFT launch. Dubbed the “Konami Memorial NFT,” the collection featured 14 artworks from the Castlevania series.
More Web3 Projects from Japan in 2022
Along with Sega and Konami, powerhouse video game company Square Enix also made some significant moves in the space this year.
Square Enix
In mid-September, gaming-centric blockchain Oasys formed a partnership with video game company Square Enix. The Japanese conglomerate became one of the 21 initial node validators in the ecosystem. Along with Square Enix, other validators include Bandai Namco, Sega, Ubisoft, WeMade, and Yield Guild Games, to name a few.
“We are excited to join the Oasys team and others in the gaming community on this project,” Square Enix Blockchain Entertainment Division Director Yosuke Saito stated. “Our shared enthusiasm for Web3 gaming makes this an exciting partnership and we look forward to gaining insights that can advance the creation of all-new play experiences for gamers across the globe.”
Formed after companies Square and Enix merged in 2003, Square Enix boasts a portfolio of some of the most successful Role-Playing Games (RPG) in the digital realm. Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Kingdom Hearts, are some of the titles that come to mind, whenever Square Enix is mentioned in a conversation.
About SEGA
Sega Corporation (simply known as Sega) is a Shinagawa-headquartered video game and entertainment company that has produced several popular titles. Multi-million-selling game franchises under Sega’s belt include Total War, Virtua Fighter, Yakuza, and its flagship hit Sonic the Hedgehog.
Along with the company’s games, Sega also released a few well-known consoles including the Sega Genesis, the handheld Game Gear, and its last project the Dreamcast. Even though its competitor Nintendo dominated the video game market in the 90s, Sega was one of the few names to successfully put up a fight against the Kyoto-based company and its ever-popular Super Mario Bros.
Sega’s entry into Web3 with Sangokushi Taisen brings tons of optimism for blockchain gamers and investors around the globe.
About Konami
Konami Group Corporation, simply known as “Konami,” is a well-established Japanese entertainment conglomerate and video game company. The brand has produced some of the most popular titles in the history of electronic gaming. Games developed and published under the Konami banner include Castlevania, Contra, Metal Gear, Pro Evolution Soccer, Silent Hill, and Yu-Gi-Oh!, to name a few.
Konami also has its own music video game division called Bemani. The entity is behind successful projects such as Beatmania, and Dance Dance Revolution. In addition to that, Konami owns the assets of the now-defunct game developer Hudson Soft. The company is behind classic titles such as Adventure Island, Bomberman, and Star Soldier.
Konami’s recent efforts to hire talents for Web3 shows the company’s commitment to utilize a promising technology, despite blockchain’s early-stage challenges.
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