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In a notable shift, the Epic Games Store has updated its policies to allow the inclusion of blockchain-based games on its platform. This transfer marks a departure from its earlier stance and units Epic Games other than different digital distribution platforms. 

However, the implementation of this new policy has raised issues surrounding content material tips and the appliance of age scores, notably about video games that includes play-to-earn mechanics.

Epic Games Store Embraces Blockchain Games

According to a PC Gamer report, in contrast to its competitor Steam, which banned NFT video games in 2021, the Epic Games Store has demonstrated a extra open-minded strategy. 

The CEO of Epic Games, Tim Sweeney, expressed a perception in builders’ freedom to decide on how they design their video games, leaving it as much as customers to resolve whether or not or to not interact with blockchain-based titles. As a end result, the primary blockchain sport, Blankos Block Party, debuted on the Epic Store shortly after Sweeney’s assertion.

The ESRB, the North American online game score company, lately assigned an Adults Only (AO) score to 2 blockchain-based video games, Gods Unchained and Striker Manager 3. 

Surprisingly, the score was not resulting from specific grownup content material, however slightly the inclusion of play-to-earn mechanics providing “cash prizes.” According to Epic Games Store’s content guidelines, merchandise with an AO score can’t be distributed on their platform, ensuing within the removing of those video games from sale.

The ESRB clarified that the AO score was indirectly associated to the video games being blockchain-based however slightly their particular implementation. 

The score company considers elements similar to real-money rewards, prizes with real-world worth, and the involvement of money in figuring out scores. Although not a blanket rule, blockchain-enabled video games or apps can obtain an AO rating if a mix of those elements is current.

Clash Of Ratings And Guidelines

Following the removing of Gods Unchained and Striker Manager 3, Epic Games Store made an exception to its coverage for video games that obtained an AO score solely resulting from their crypto or NFT (non-fungible token) know-how implementation. 

However, these video games should nonetheless adhere to Epic’s content material tips, together with prohibitions on playing facilitation and different restricted content material.

The conflict between the ESRB’s score choices and Epic’s content material tips has created a fancy scenario for blockchain sport builders. 

While Steam continues to ban blockchain video games, the Epic Games Store’s extra accepting stance permits blockchain-based titles to reach a wider audience. 

Nonetheless, the problem lies in navigating the high-quality line between implementing the nascent know-how and avoiding content material that triggers an AO score.

The Epic Games Store’s determination to permit blockchain video games on its platform signifies a shift within the digital distribution panorama. While this transfer presents new potentialities for builders, challenges come up when reconciling age scores and content material tips for blockchain-based titles. 

As the gaming business continues to discover the potential of blockchain know-how, discovering a stability between innovation and compliance with present rules will probably be essential for the way forward for this rising style.

Featured picture from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com