GameStop (GME) seems to have ditched their plans to use snark based Loopring, and is opting instead for starks on ImmutableX.
“The ImmutableX L2 protocol will be powering GameStop’s upcoming NFT marketplace with security, speed, 100% carbon neutrality and zero gas fees,” ImmutableX publicly said before adding:
“Our integration will allow current and future NFT projects and economies to access more liquidity and gaming content with mainstream users.”
Much of the rest now seems to be in development as no further detail was provided regarding what digital NFT game or project is GameStop currently working on.
They announced a $100 million grant to fund gaming developers however, with that being one of the biggest of its kind.
Prospective developers can apply now for the grant which “enables creators to leverage all the benefits the leading L2 Ethereum brings at ImmutableX,” the startup said.
Making GameStop one of the biggest backers of NFTs, in addition to Ubisoft which is sticking to its adoption of NFTs, with Ubisoft’s Strategic Innovations Lab VP Nicolas Pouard saying:
“The end game is about giving players the opportunity to resell their items once they’re finished with them or they’re finished playing the game itself. So, it’s really, for them. It’s really beneficial. But they don’t get it for now.”
GameStop initially planned to use Loopring, which also does NFTs, but ImmutableX specializes on NFTs and uses a zk technology called starks which does not require what is called an initiation ceremony for the launch of the second layer, unlike snarks.
That compression layer is already live on ethereum with one of the earliest blockchain games, Gods Unchained, using it.
Which places GameStop on a stronger technological footing for their NFT plans as ImmutableX has almost no fees while running on ethereum’s public blockchain.
Source: https://www.trustnodes.com/2022/02/03/gamestop-to-launch-nft-marketplace-on-ethereums-immutablex