The news that Square Enix, the company behind the multi-million dollar franchise Final Fantasy, revealed its plans to create Non Fungible Tokens (NFTs) of FF7 characters has pleased some of their fans while alienating many others. While the move may appear to be a groundbreaking step forward in gaming and blockchain technology, it has also put the concept of irony on life support.
For years, fans of the Japanese gaming giant have been clamoring for a reimagining of the highly popular and successful Final Fantasy 7. Square Enix has always refused to bow to the pressures of its fanbase, taking a stance that the original version of the game was perfect as is. However, with their new plan to create NFTs, Square Enix has effectively killed the concept of irony.
The idea of creating digital assets from a game that revolves around a main character trying to keep truly valuable items from becoming digital products is a contradiction in terms. Not only does it undermine the main theme of the game, but it also disregards the thematic impact of other characters within the story. For example, Nanaki, a loving and fiercely loyal member of AVALANCHE, refuses to be converted into a digital asset of someone’s portfolio. His loyalty and value within the game cannot be measured in dollar signs.
What’s more, there is a clear disconnect between the company’s original stance of the game being too good to mess with and their newfound endorsement of the idea that it’s okay to make products out of characters in the game. In other words, Square Enix has effectively gone back on its word, creating a giant wave of irony that can be felt across the entire fan community.
Despite the scale of the hypocrisy involved in their latest endeavor, Square Enix still has a chance to win some fans back. They could take the initiative to address their latest decision and show some humility and understanding, listening to how it was received and what customers actually want. It is, after all, the only way to start rebuilding the trust between the company and their customers.
In conclusion, Square Enix’s decision to launch NFTs of FF7 characters has effectively killed the concept of irony, not just in its own decision-making, but also within the larger gaming industry. Now, the company must make attempts to address the concerns of its fans and build back the trust. Only then can Square Enix start to really embrace the concept of NFTs and blockchain technology in the most ethical and responsible manner.
