KEY POINTS
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has indicated that the popular battle royale game Fortnite might integrate blockchain technology in the future, but it will not involve cryptocurrencies or non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
This clarification came from a tweet Sweeney posted in response to Jonah Blake, co-founder of Game Fund Partners, who asked about the potential use of blockchain in Fortnite, referencing a recent interview with Matthew Ball.
“We’ve plainly said many times that we aren’t adopting cryptocurrency or NFT trading or similar,” Sweeney wrote.
While dismissing the use of crypto and NFTs, Sweeney did acknowledge the potential of blockchain technology. He noted that blockchain might someday serve as a decentralized solution for managing the distributed transactional evolution of simulation states among participants in an open ecosystem.
He praised the underlying technology as “awesome nerd technology” in his interview with Ball. Sweeney highlighted the importance of blockchain concepts such as zero-knowledge proofs and cryptographic consensus protocols, suggesting that these could become vital components in many future systems.
Sweeney also discussed his vision for an “open metaverse with interoperable economies, accounts, and services across games and platforms.” This statement aligns with the company’s broader goals for creating a more interconnected digital universe.
In recent years, Epic Games has secured significant investments that support its metaverse ambitions. In 2022, Sony invested $1 billion in the company, signaling strong interest in the metaverse.
In February, Disney followed suit with a $1.5 billion investment, focusing on Fortnite as a central element in its metaverse expansion plans. This partnership hints at the potential for an immersive digital environment featuring characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and more.
