NFTs in gaming have been a controversial topic ever since they started cropping up in recent titles. The likes of Axie Infinity and CryptoKitties have catapulted play-to-earn NFT games, but the traditional gaming community isn’t yet convinced of NFT gaming for varied reasons. There are the system’s environmental consequences and the way big game studios abuse NFTs to get more from in-game transactions to consider, to name a few.
So, it’s no surprise that the newly announced Polium One garnered plenty of backlash from the gaming community. Touted as “the world’s first multi-chain gaming console for Web3,” the product lets users play blockchain-based games, download metaverses, and trade NFTs.
What is NFT Console Polium One?
The Polium One console is a product of Polium, a gaming company that is laying down the foundations for Web3 gaming. Note that most of the world is currently in the Web2 stage. Web3 is believed to follow soon, and it entails the proliferation of blockchain technology — including cryptocurrencies and NFTs.
According to Polium, Web3 gaming will require users to learn about crypto and the different blockchains. Otherwise, they won’t be able to interact with the blockchain gaming system. Their solution to this problem is the Polium One console, which allows console players to experience Web3 games across different blockchains and without needing multiple crypto wallets. Put simply, the Polium One is for Web3 gamers who want a plug-and-play option.
According to the roadmap on the Polium website, the Polium One is currently in the console design stage. It will be ready for launch in Q3 2024.
The Ensuing Backlash
Unsurprisingly, the gaming community isn’t impressed. Though aside from the expected crypto/NFT criticisms, Polium was also put under fire for its peculiar logo. Many users accused Polium of copying GameCube’s logo as the images were too similar to each other. To this, Polium explained that it didn’t copy the logo and that multiple companies used a similar one. Nonetheless, the company would illustrate a new, "original" logo.
This wasn’t the only issue with Polium’s branding. For one, the website listed “TouchID” as one of the console’s features, but that term has been trademarked by Apple. Another user also points out the controller’s similarity to the PlayStation’s DualShock 4, even down to the built-in speaker and the ports underneath it.
Then comes the flood of burning questions. Many users took to Twitter to ask Polium how exactly Web3 gaming is the future. The gaming community is understandably dubious of Polium One, especially considering that existing Web3 games are nothing more than basic mobile games with the play-to-earn aspect attached to them. These NFT games pale in comparison to traditional video games with more challenging and enjoyable mechanics. Not to mention, NFT sales have been plummeting for some time now.
To this, Polium assures the community that it is “currently in talks” with Web3 game developers, so the Polium One will have a wide range of titles to choose from and even some exclusives. However, the company doesn’t name any of these supposed Web3 game devs, drawing even more criticism from the gaming community. That’s not to say that there can’t be good and environmentally friendly Web3 NFT gaming titles, just that Polium doesn’t inspire confidence among those in the gaming community.
Even then, it’ll be hard to convince the community of the viability of Web3 gaming. This is especially because the whole concept seems to center around profit — playing to earn, trading, buying video game NFTs, etc. The emphasis isn’t on the experience anymore, but on what players get out of it. Until the blockchain system is able to evolve out of that stage, then it’s likely gamers will continue to doubt the value of Web3 gaming.