PlatinumGames label NFT trend ‘frustrating’ with ‘no positive impact’

destructoid.com:

PlatinumGames head honchos Atsushi Inaba and Hideki Kamiya have slammed the NFT trend, criticizing the controversial blockchain technology for having “no positive impact for creators”. The duo’s opinion was stated, in no uncertain terms, in an interview with gaming outlet VGC.

“I understand it’s a hot topic right now and it’s really starting to gain momentum,” said PlatinumGames CEO Inaba, “but the way that it’s gained momentum has been focused on profitability for the company, but with no positive impact on the creators or the users in any sense. So that’s frustrating to see happening.

“[The] conversations seem extremely one-sided. ‘Hey, you’re going to make money!’ But how does it benefit the user or the creator? If I want to spend my time on something, I want it to benefit making good games.”

Former Capcom producer Kamiya was equally unenthused with the NFT trend, candidly calling out studios such as Konami for hopping on the ultra-fragile cash-carrying bandwagon.

“If it smells like money,” noted the Bayonetta creator “Konami’s going to be there in a heartbeat!”

As a major studio, PlatinumGames are somewhat in the minority when it comes to opposing NFT technology. Companies such as Ubisoft, Square Enix, Electronic Arts, Team17, and even some independent developers were quick in their efforts to get on the “bottom rung” of the paper-thin NFT ladder. While some of the aforementioned studios performed embarrassing about-turns in the face of public derision, others have doubled down, convinced that it’s simply the public’s fault for not getting with the program.

Alongside the hot button topic of NFTs, Inaba and Kamiya also commented on the upcoming Bayonetta 3,  as well as Platinum’s recently released shmup Sol Cresta,