While NFTs remain controversial among gamers, It seems Playstation has been considering new ways to integrate blockchain technology into its games.
On Thursday Sony Interaction Media posted a surprise announcement about a new service coming to PlayStation consoles.
A patent originally filed last year and published this month via Gamesual suggests that the company has been looking into a system for its users. So they can acquire unique digital assets while also being able to track the use, modification, and transfer of digital assets created within both the game and other platforms.
A PlayStation Blog post, it described the items in the new scheme as digital representations of things typical PlayStation fans enjoy, including figurines of beloved and iconic characters from games and other forms of entertainment.
It went on further to add that there will always be a new collectible to earn, an ultra-rare collectible to strive for, or something surprising to collect just for fun.
The new loyalty program, Playstation Stars, which is to be launched later in the year will allow players to acquire available 3D collectible models, as digital rewards for completing in-game tasks and a variety of campaigns and activities.
All PlayStation star members will have opportunities to earn loyalty points and these points can be redeemed in a catalog that may include PSN wallet funds and select PlayStation store products, however, Sony was quick to distance the whole program from having any affiliation to NFTs albeit the resemblance in the systems.
In an emailed statement to Ars Technica. The Senior Public relations manager, Aram Jabbari, clarifies that the models are not NFTs but are only digital collectibles created just for the loyalty program and while some can be rare, they are not one of a kind, nor do PlayStation stars leverage blockchain technology.
PlayStation’s vice president of network advertising, Loyalty, and licensed merchandise, Grace Chen, also came out to the Washington Post clarifying that these digital collectibles are not NFTs as they can neither be traded nor sold.
