On Tuesday Tezos $XTZ jumped over 40% as the announcement was made by Ubisoft about the launch of Ubisoft Quartz.
Tezos, the blockchain network that powers Quartz, uses a ‘proof-of-stake’ system designed to be more energy efficient than the ‘proof-of-work’ systems used by blockchains such as Bitcoin. In a Quartz transaction, Ubisoft claims, one million times less energy is used than in a Bitcoin transaction; the system is comparable to 30 seconds of video streaming, rather than a year of video streaming in Bitcoin transactions.
With its first entry into the world of blockchain technology and NFTs, Ubisoft is gaining traction in the market. Ubisoft Quartz offers limited-edition cosmetics for Ubisoft games that can be resold for cryptocurrency on third-party marketplaces. Starting with items for Ghost Recon Breakpoint, it will launch in beta on December 9.
Ubisoft Quartz offers limited edition, in-game cosmetics called Digits that are available as NFT items. A serial number is assigned to every Digit, which will be visible on the item. In addition to the magazine number on the rifle, a helmet may also have its rim ‘engraved’. Additionally, the Digit’s metadata includes your Ubisoft Connect username. The metadata of a Digit is updated whenever it is sold to a new owner, creating a history of ownership for the NFT. A Digit also comes with a video showing the item in action while in-game.
Ghost Recon Breakpoint’s Ubisoft Connect PC version will receive three Digits when Ubisoft Quartz launches on December 9: a ‘Wolves’ skin for the M4A1 Tactical rifle, a helmet, and a pair of pants. You will be able to claim these Digits free of charge, but they will only be available for a short period of time (drops will be on December 9, 12, and 15). As a condition of claiming these rewards, players must also meet certain criteria: the rifle requires a level 5 achievement in Ghost Recon Breakpoint, the pants a level 100 achievement, and the helmet a level 600 achievement. Baptiste Chardon, Ubisoft’s Blockchain Business and Product Director, explains, “We are focusing on our most engaged users with this first batch.”
As a result, genuine Ubisoft players can obtain Digits instead of those looking to trade with them on third-party marketplaces. Additionally, Digits can only be owned by the user once, further reinforcing scarcity and preventing them from farming collectibles.
Ubisoft Quartz has a number of requirements for those interested in signing up. The requirements are to have a Ubisoft Connect account, open a crypto-wallet with a third-party service (Kukai or Temple), and be at least 18 years old. In addition, the beta is only available in select territories: Canada, USA, Brazil, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, and Australia.
Despite the fact that Ubisoft Quartz will launch in beta, and there are plans for further Digits drops in 2022, it’s clear the system is in its very infancy and experimental in nature. In other words, the focus is currently on cosmetics rather than any kind of blockchain-based gameplay systems.
We can see this concept in action with Quartz’s requirement for thousands of hours of play before Digits become available. Ubisoft announced its blockchain plans with the phrase “play-to-earn” earlier this year. This is the first move into blockchain by a AAA company, but the games industry has been experimenting with the idea for a while. Steam has also banned blockchain games that issue NFTs in response to Valve’s crackdown. Epic Games, however, does not ban blockchain games.
