Square Enix, renowned for creating JRPG classics like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, is venturing into the realm of crypto-based NFT gaming with the development of its own game, “Symbiogenesis,” in collaboration with a prominent metaverse investment firm.
The company announced on Monday that it has signed a collaboration agreement with Animoca Brands to enhance marketing efforts for “Symbiogenesis” and its collection of 10,000 Ethereum NFTs.
Under the agreement, Animoca Brands Japan will provide support for the game, leveraging its expertise in expanding Japanese products overseas, NFT sales, and fostering collaboration with Animoca’s existing portfolio companies.
Kensuke Amo, COO of Animoca Brands Japan, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, “Animoca Brands Japan is pleased to be working with SQUARE ENIX, an entertainment company that provides world-class content and IP that Japan can be proud of.”
“Symbiogenesis” is a PC narrative adventure game set in a dystopian high fantasy world, where players assume the roles of their Ethereum NFT avatars. These avatars can interact with other in-game NFTs minted on the Ethereum scaling network Polygon. An NFT is required for access to the game.
The game unfolds on a “floating continent” in a polluted future Earth, where humans battle against a mythical dragon for survival. It will be featured on Animoca Brands Japan’s upcoming NFT launchpad, scheduled to launch this summer with Ethereum and Polygon support.
【Chapter2 Story teaser公開! 04.アカネと武国の牢獄】明日、2章キャラクター情報公開予定!
……起きたのね。まあ、あのまま……アンタに死なれちゃ目覚め悪いし。
You’re up, huh.And, well… I’d look terrible if you died.#SYMBIOGENESIS pic.twitter.com/3rKVdbs7Z9— SYMBIOGENESIS -NFT Art&Game Project- | SQUARE ENIX (@symbiogenesisPR) April 22, 2024
This collaboration isn’t the first between Square Enix and Animoca. In 2020, Square Enix led an investment round in the popular NFT game “The Sandbox,” which later integrated characters and assets from its Dungeon Siege game into Sandbox’s game-making tools.
Square Enix previously released Final Fantasy VII-based NFTs on Polygon in 2022 and invested $35 million in Bitcoin gaming and payment platform Zebedee that same year.
Recently, Square Enix announced separate investments in crypto-native PC launcher apps Hyperplay and Elixer Games, signalling its commitment to the crypto space.
Naoyuki Tamate, Symbiogenesis Producer, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration with Animoca, stating, “We are very excited about this initiative and look forward to working with Animoca Brands Japan to bring the Web3 experience to a wider audience in an even more strategic way.”