OpenSea deleted this game’s NFTs—then the creators got their revenge

A reference NFT In such games, the marketplace may not be prominent. Open season. After all, the Fortnite-like battle royale shooter is awash with colorful crypto memes, including a Pepe-themed amusement park. Bored monkeys And Milady Avatars running around.

But if the “tribute” in question is the wreckage of a ship flaming next to a ship named “OpenSea” – and you consider the title of the game – then it's bound to attract attention. And it's personal too.

Burning image to OpenSea, first shared. via Twitter This month, game developer Fractional Rebellion Studios responded with a wink to an enforcement action taken by the NFT marketplace. OpenSea has deleted the studio listing. Ethereum NFT passes, for the game and other benefits, including in-game items and potential tokens Air drop Awards.

“We had plans to add some OpenSea stories to the game,” said Krypticrooks, the pseudonymous co-founder. Decrypt's GG. But after OpenSea took action, the plans changed. It will still be a docked boat, but no longer floating in calm waters.

“After the list, [co-founder] Spobs hinted that the FU studio team was working near the docks and decided it must be set on fire. “A very cheeky and easy stab at them.”

Partisan rebellion He tweeted a short video clip Earlier this month, OpenSea sued for “falsely disabling our collection.” Decrypt He reviewed the team's email communications with OpenSea customer service agents, who told the studio that the collection had been canceled. You still can View the project through OpenSeaNFTs cannot be listed or traded.

A representative of OpenSea confirmed Decrypt The project was delisted for violation. Terms of Service. The rep pointed to a section of the terms that includes statements that prohibit “the Service from engaging in any financial activity” related to “creating, selling, buying or purchasing securities, commodities, options or debt instruments.”

“As stated in our terms of service, any party seeking to offer financial instruments on OpenSea directly violates company policy and may face enforcement action, including cancellation and, in some cases, account ban,” said an OpenSea representative. Decrypt.

The factional rebellion group shared similar language when they asked about cancellation. They said in the message, “We have not made any appeal offer, and we do not plan to make one.

“We are unable to change this decision,” replied an OpenSea customer service agent.

Studio founders are frustrated by the lack of transparency. While OpenSea's form letter did not go into specifics for the group, the developers do not believe their project description offered incentives or promises of financial gain inconsistent with what other NFT projects have done. It was especially disappointing that they failed to appeal.

“It's basically just closing the door, and you don't have anything to say,” Crypticrox said. “They are a private company. I guess they can do whatever they want, but they deserve the reputation that preceded them. They don't do much.'Web3,' in my opinion.”

OpenSea declined to comment further. Decrypt In addition to confirming the reason for cancellation and disclosure. But the complaint that OpenSea is “more corporate” or less “Web3” than competing platforms is not new among traders, especially with venture capital funding and Constantly ignored calls To start its own crypto token to benefit users and share management.

A year ago, but the rival blurred OpenSea arrived quickly While offering BLUR token rewards. OpenSea is still a big name, but there are many notable projects in terms of transaction volume—which means that simply delisting from OpenSea isn't the kiss of death for projects in 2021 or 2022.

And while he won't (or shouldn't) explain the details, OpenSeason organizers have teased the marketplace in the past. The name of the game was intended to be a cross between the NFT giant and the concept of “open season” in hunting.

In addition, the group earlier They shared a fake cease and desist letter. From OpenSea lawyers in July 2023 as a marketing gimmick, pretending that the marketplace is taking action against the same brand name. The founders say that some of OpenSea's employees reached out at the time to say it was a funny gag.

Either way, the factional rebellion is going on without OpenSea. NFT Passes are still listed through Blur, among other marketplaces, and OpenSeason is just days away—the PC game will be released in Early Access Via the Epic Games Store on February 29, serving as a ticket to the battle royale showdowns with NFT.

Based on the trailer and early gameplay footage posted to Twitter, OpenSeason looks like a more cartoonish riff on Fortnite's survival-based shooter “Jpeg Island,” a game loaded with crypto memes and avatars. Cryptopunks, Bored Monkeys and more. The team says they have hundreds of crypto references that they plan to package over time.

OpenSeason will also launch a tournament mode where players can earn and use in-game “beans” similar to the point systems of other crypto apps and protocols. They can be paid to upgrade your character or on matches—and can also be exchanged for the studio's proposed token called FUmoney.

While Krypticrooks sees OpenSea as “bullies,” Fraction Rebellion admits that running around while building OpenSeason's curious crypto brawl gave him more “lore” to touch the game. And Spoobs said there is still one potential way for OpenSea to mend fences.

“If you do an airdrop, we forgive you,” he said.

Edited by Guillermo Jimenez