Ultra.io thinks ultra big. Launched a year ago, this platform intends to revolutionize the distribution of video games thanks to the blockchain. “We are developing a ‘tokenisation‘ license of video games, explains David Hansonco-founder and CEO ofUltra.io. The purchase of a game on our platform is linked to an NFT (non-fungible token). This will be directly stored on the user’s cryptocurrency wallet. The advantage: allow players to actually own their dematerialized games and therefore be able to resell them second-hand. A practice so far impossible on competing platforms, such as Steam.
Creating a second-hand market for dematerialized games is a “strategic challenge. This is added value for players, especially in times of inflation or for those from emerging markets,” continues the CEO. If the purchase can be made both via a bank card or a cryptocurrency, resale will only be possible in cryptocurrency. What to repel players, cautious of immersing themselves in the world of blockchain? “It is a technology that is still very complicated to access for the general public. This very often remains an obstacle to reaching a large community and becoming mainstream, recognizes David Hanson. This is why we focus on simplicity of use: a player can buy, download and play without noticing that he has used the blockchain. »
Become an application ecosystem
Ultra.io also seeks to attract developers, who can “set the resale conditions of their games when programming their NFTs. For example, it is possible to define a minimum price, the amount of its commission or the date from which the resale will be possible. These conditions are immutable, details David Hanson. Himself a former developer, he “realized the injustices exercised by distribution platforms. Creating a game is long and expensive. Often, the developer takes the risk and then sees himself crushed by the platforms. »
Hence the interest in using this open and transparent technology. “Once issued, NFTs cannot be controlled by any third-party entity – not even our platform. This establishes a bond of trust,” says the co-founder. To get paid, Ultra.io takes a 15% commission on resales of video games.
Accessible free of charge, the platform is still being beta tested with 150,000 players. The goal is to open it to everyone by the end of the year. A catalog of more than 1,000 games is already accessible, thanks to partnerships with developers, but also big names in the industry like Ubisoft or Plug In Digital. Ultimately, the ambition is to provide an ecosystem of services. Beyond the simple distribution of video games, Ultra.io wants to offer an e-sport tournament platform or a cryptocurrency trading platform.
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