PUBG maker Krafton to build blockchain games, services on Solana

Krafton, the developers and distributors of the Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) franchise – in India as Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) – has announced a partnership with Solana Labs, promoters of the Solana blockchain and SOL cryptocurrency token. The partnership will see Krafton build blockchain-based games and services under its product portfolio.

Hyungchul Park, leader of web3 roundtable at Krafton, said upon the announcement, “Krafton will continuously see ways to work closely with blockchain companies like Solana Labs as we stride towards establishing our Web 3.0 ecosystem. Through this collaboration, Krafton will acquire the insight needed to accelerate its investment in and output of blockchain-based experiences.”

Blockchain gaming is a web3 concept that brings in cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in the field of gaming. While the underlying games themselves do not change, blockchain gaming can allow titles to incorporate cryptocurrency tokens – including a game’s own token – as currency for trading within the game platform. Such games may also include NFTs as collectibles or special giveaway prizes that players may win.

While the concept behind in-game currencies and collectibles remain the same, the use of a cryptocurrency can see players being rewarded in crypto tokens – and also linking their crypto wallets to pay for in-game items through such tokens. NFTs promoted through games could also transform into digital art that can be sold or auctioned through the games themselves – or via NFT marketplaces.

Blockchain gaming is also expected to be one of the key aspects of the metaverse concept. Platforms such as Decentraland and The Sandbox have so far given a glimpse of how virtual worlds may let users play games to be rewarded in crypto tokens, and subsequently use the same tokens for other activities – such as making purchases of virtual real estate as well as commodities within this space.

Developers have been actively looking at the blockchain gaming space for a while now. Titles such as Shrapnel have claimed to be building a AAA first-person shooter experience (a flagship title, in gaming parlance) on blockchain, while major gaming houses such as Ubisoft have also ventured into this space to offer playable NFTs.

Krafton, however, has not offered any timeline in terms of what development plans it has in store. The company has already stated that it plans to “get into the web 3.0 and NFT businesses based on its game development capability and operation experience acquired from BGMI,” but no timeline for such announcements have been revealed so far.