Epic Games Brings Blockchain Games Back After Updating Policy

After getting booted from the platform, blockchain games are returning to the Epic Games Store. These games were previously removed from the platform due to the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) classification of ‘Adult Only (AO).’ However, the company recently announced that they do not fall under this umbrella.

The Games Were Booted After Getting an AO Rating

The company wrote on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that, “Gods Unchained and Striker Manager 3 have returned to the Store after a change in our content policy regarding ratings for blockchain-based games.” They still have to follow the prescribed guidelines provided by Epic Games. It restricts abusive content, gambling, fraudulent schemes, and more.

AO, as the name suggests, is content suitable for adults. It may include aspects including violence, sex, or other kinds of graphical depictions that might not be suitable for people of a certain age. Some stores even prohibit AO-rated games to be sold through their platforms.

Brian Sharon, an Epic Games spokesperson, told technology news publication The Verge that “Some blockchain-based games are receiving Adults Only (AO) ratings from industry rating bodies for their particular implementation of blockchain.” He further added, “We’ve updated our Epic Games Store content policy to allow for games that are rated AO solely due to the usage of blockchain or NFT technology.”

Gods Unchained and Striker Manager 3 were previously booted due to their 18 and over rating. ESRB assigned them the ratings attributing to the play to earn (P2E) element in them. Regarding the former, ESRB told a crypto website that their rating system assesses if products provide any real-world value.

In-game assets of the game involved GOD, the native cryptocurrency of the game, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). NFTs are unlike crypto assets, however, employ the same technology underlying cryptocurrencies. In-game characters, skins, digital land plots and more can be treated as NFTs in a blockchain game.

Blockchain integration is usually opposed by traditional gamers given their perception of the technology. They believe it will add more finance-related aspects and eliminate the entertainment aspect of games. Moreover, the technology could be harmful to the environment. SEGA met with a backlash from the community when they found out about Sonic NFTs as the game itself focuses on saving the environment.

It has hindered blockchain games from coming out into the mainstream. However, Epic Games is already a mainstream organization with their metaverse game Fortnite having a global user base of over 200 Million. The latest data shows it has generated $26 Billion in revenue since its inception. Interestingly, NFTs are deemed a vital element of the metaverse.

Return of these games indicates that the company is focusing on blockchain gaming alongside its flagship games. However, it does not imply that they may integrate them into their products like Fortnite. In fact, they may keep both aspects to grow in separate domains.

Anurag is working as a fundamental writer for The Coin Republic since 2021. He likes to exercise his curious muscles and research deep into a topic. Though he covers various aspects of the crypto industry, he is quite passionate about the Web3, NFTs, Gaming, and Metaverse, and envisions them as the future of the (digital) economy. A reader & writer at heart, he calls himself an “average guitar player” and a fun footballer.