On Wednesday, Google’s group product manager Joseph Mills stated that the firm has changed its mobile software marketplace policy to let application developers to include digital assets like NFTs into their games via the Play app store. Mills announces that Google Play is “pleased to share that we’re updating our policy to open new ways to transact blockchain-based digital content within apps and games on Google Play,” with one such change being the addition of “boosting user loyalty through unique NFT rewards.”
Google withdrew the Bitcoin Blast game in 2020 for “deceptive practises” after it was banned from Google Play in 2018 for using cryptocurrency for mining. In October, Apple announced that NFTs acquired from sources other than the App Store could not provide any gameplay advantages. In addition, a 30% cut goes to Apple for any in-game purchases made via the App Store.
NFTs and other assets cannot be offered as prizes in apps that do not comply with Google Play’s Real-Money Gambling, Games, and Contests policy or meet Google’s eligibility rules. “This includes, but is not limited to, offering mechanisms to receive randomised blockchain-based items from a purchase, such as ‘loot boxes,'” Mills added.
A small group of developers is now helping test out the new strategy before it is rolled out to all developers on Google Play later this year, so the firm expects customers to start experiencing in-app and gaming experiences by the end of the summer.
The developer’s responsibility to disclose whether or not the game facilitates the acquisition of NFTs or cryptocurrencies by players is emphasised. Developers also can’t “glamorise any potential earning from playing or trading activities,”.
Apple said in October that developers may list NFTs, mint new ones, transfer them to other users, and show users their own NFT balances. Unfortunately, due to company policies, NFT ownership does not provide access to additional software features. In addition, applications may allow users to see other collections, but they cannot display any links, buttons, or calls to action that direct users to the purchase of NFTs. Official Apple policy is that users must use the in-app purchase method to get NFTs.
