Square Enix Unveils Controversial Final Fantasy 7 NFTs
Square Enix has finally revealed the Final Fantasy 7 NFTs that were teased nearly a year ago. As other video game companies in 2022 began to back down from plans to integrate NFTs into their intellectual properties, the Japanese publisher and developer stood firm. Square Enix President Yosuke Matsuda released a letter to ring in New Year 2022 and expressed a commitment to blockchain technology, and one of the first IPs to get the NFT treatment would be Final Fantasy 7.
As Final Fantasy fans begged Square Enix to reconsider its NFT plans, the company’s stock jumped in price by 8% soon after Matsuda’s letter was published. The goal of introducing NFTs into the Square Enix ecosystem, the company’s president claimed, was to make gaming more exciting and to entice people who otherwise had no incentive to play traditional games.
Square Enix has now revealed the Final Fantasy 7 Anniversary Art Museum Digital Card Plus, a wordy title for a collection of digital and physical trading cards based on the extremely popular RPG, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2022. There will be 207 different cards, comprised of 102 normal cards, their premium version foil duplicates, and three additional cards that have not yet been revealed. The trading cards will feature “art, visuals, and famous scenes” from Final Fantasy 7 since its release in 1997.
The items will be sold in packs of six physical cards and one collectible NFT digital card, with a price tag of roughly $3 USD each. A box containing 20 physical card packs can also currently be preordered for $79.80 from Square Enix’s North America store. The release date for these Final Fantasy 7 trading cards is listed on the Japanese-language website as March 31, 2023. The site also clarifies that the digital cards can be “enjoyed at any time on your smartphone or PC,” and a special website has already gone live where owners can trade or view their NFTs.
In addition to finally revealing the Final Fantasy 7 digital trading cards, Square Enix also recently offered a first look at its upcoming NFT-based game Symbiogenesis. In November 2022, when it was discovered that the company had trademarked the word “symbiogenesis,” many fans expressed hope that an announcement for a Parasite Eve remaster would soon follow. Instead, it turned out to be the title of a full-fledged RPG built around blockchain technology that will feature 10,000 collectible NFTs.
It is curious that Square Enix seems to be fully set on its path to introduce NFTs into new games and established IPs. While a few companies still show some interest in the tech, with recent rumors even claiming that Sony plans to rent NFTs to players and stream audiences, the fervor seems to have died down greatly since 2021/2022. Companies that were previously all-in, like Ubisoft, have since become less vocal about their NFT intentions, while others like Mojang have denounced them outright.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake is available on PC, PS4, and PS5.
Sources: Square Enix, Square Enix Store
