Bandai Namco – the Japanese game publisher behind titles such as Elden Ring, Dark Souls and Tekken and Pac-Man – continues to conduct research and development in the mobile blockchain gaming sector for the Asian market.
Bandai Namco's SVP of Corporate Development Karim Fargali discusses his position on blockchain's role in video games, as well as what the studio is exploring in the crypto world – in an interview with Decrypt This week at the Esports and Gaming Business Summit in Las Vegas.
Fargali, who has worked at Bandy Namco's US division for more than eight years, shared that the publisher is looking at how blockchain integrations fit into its mobile-focused business model.
“We have gone into it by investigating how it is Web3 Infrastructure can be built,” said Farghaly Decrypt. “From an Asian perspective, I'll be working closely with a team in Tokyo on our corporate plan that thinks about these things and the differences between the Western market and the Asian market when it comes to Web3.”
“Web3 is definitely something that doesn't respond to what gamers in the West feel in Asia,” Farghaly added. “I think that the first games that will start to bring a large audience and succeed in Web3 and crypto will be in Asia – this is my personal opinion.”
The stigma surrounding blockchain games in Asia means more activity. So far this truth has been proven, along with many more Large printers Actively developing blockchain games in Japan and Korea than in the West.
“There's more going on there,” Fargali said of blockchain gaming activity in Asia.
“And for us, Web3 is a bit of a challenge because of the response it's had in general. I was a bit surprised as I know there are some big IP's looking at the web3 space.
as a Sega, Bandai Namco has similarly worked with blockchain company Double Jump.Tokyo to develop blockchain games. This summer, Bandai Namco launched an AI-powered virtual pet game. RyuzoWhere players can own their own Ryu creatures NFTs.
The Ryu NFTs are on. Occ blockchain. Bandai Namco invested in Oasys, and Sega and Ubisoft They are also committed to building projects on the OCC chain.
“We've invested in a couple Web3 companies through a VC fund in Japan,” Fargali said of Oasis as well. Double Jump.TokyoWeb3 community platform GoodAnd Geniesan NFT wearable company.
Farghaly sees unique value in blockchain games, especially for what he calls the “whales” of the gaming world.
“Owning a digital asset, and the ability to trade that asset, to sell that asset, to hold that asset for a long time… I think it's very exciting for gamers, especially gamers who want to spend money on games,” Fargali said. Decrypt.
Fargali believes that the mobile game sector will lead the way.
“Mobile will probably push Web3 and crypto faster, just because you now have iOS and the combination google It allows you to get the property out,” Farghaly said.
“I think we'll see that more than anything else. So mobile is probably a bit ahead, and PC will have it, but PC is just a multi-platform PC. And at the end of the day, it may not be where we look to our audience,” he said.
Edited by Ryan Ozawa.
Stay on top of crypto news, get daily updates in your inbox.
