On its game shop, Epic has said that it is “open to titles that embrace cryptocurrency or blockchain-based assets.” This is in contrast to its rival Valve, which has prohibited games that use blockchain technology or non-fungible tokens from its Steam platform. Epic further informed that there would be certain restrictions, but that it was ready to collaborate with “early creators” in the “new area.”
Epic Games has said that the games will be required to conform with financial regulations, make it clear how the blockchain will be utilized, and have age restrictions that are suitable for the target audience. It also states that creators will not be able to utilize Epic’s payment system in order to take cryptocurrency; rather, they will be required to create their own payment channels.
“Epic will explain its policies in the future,” said the company. Epic’s CEO, Tim Sweeney, has previously stated that the business is not keen to work with non-fungible tokens (NFTs), although that remark now seems to pertain solely to the company’s in-house games.
During its collaboration with developers to learn how they want to use blockchain technology into their games, Epic has told The Verge that it will explain the regulations as it goes forward. In the meanwhile, Sweeney has tweeted some more thoughts: he says Epic is open to “innovation in the fields of technology and money,” and he argues that blockchain is neither good nor bad in and of itself.
None of this implies that developers who have been rejected by Steam should run out and publish their game on the Epic Game Store. Epic’s self-publishing initiative is now in closed beta, and according to the company’s FAQ, it selects who may participate on a “case-by-case basis.”
While Epic has demonstrated itself to be a relatively permissive platform owner, this was a source of debate during the company’s trial with Apple when lawyers raised the “offensive and sexualized” games that were accessible on Itch.io, a game brand that was accessible through Epic’s game store, as a sticking point.
Another manner in which Epic might challenge Valve is by permitting games that are now prohibited by Steam. Epic has previously shown that it is prepared to make large investments in order to establish itself as a significant player in the PC gaming market, and this may be yet another attempt to win over players and developers to its cause.
Epic Games Store will welcome games that make use of blockchain tech provided they follow the relevant laws, disclose their terms, and are age-rated by an appropriate group. Though Epic’s not using crypto in our games, we welcome innovation in the areas of technology and finance. https://t.co/6W7hb8zJBw
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) October 15, 2021
Disappointed to see short-sighted decisions that are directly impacting our adopters like @SpacePirate_io.@TimSweeneyEpic @EpicGames let’s chat? https://t.co/oQ8Y9OScS8
— Enjin (@enjin) October 15, 2021
Following the announcement of Steam, several NFT enthusiasts quickly turned their attention to Epic. Enjin, a business that assists creators in incorporating NFTs into their goods (such as SpacePirate, who tweeted about their game being removed from Steam), shared our Steam post and tagged Epic CEO Tim Sweeney, requesting a meeting with the CEO of the company. It seems that at least one of their questions has been addressed.
