Immortal Game Cuts Ties with NFTs and Crypto Amid Cheating Concerns
Immortal Game Cuts Ties with NFTs and Crypto Amid Cheating Concerns
In a surprising shift that has sent ripples through the gaming community, Immortal Game has announced it will sever its ties with non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and play-to-earn cryptocurrency elements. The decision, attributed to rampant cheating, was revealed in a Discord post last week by the pseudonymous developer known as “Luxo.”
Originally built on the Ethereum scaling network Immutable X, Immortal Game will no longer accept its Checkmate token ($CMT), dismantle its NFT marketplace, and eliminate all crypto references from its website. Tournament winners will no longer receive crypto prizes, marking a significant departure from the platform’s initial vision. These changes took effect on Monday, leaving many players and investors in shock.
Immortal Game was once heralded as a groundbreaking platform, merging the classic game of chess with the innovative world of blockchain technology. Inspired by the historic 1851 match between Adolf Anderssen and Lionel Kieseritzky, it allowed players to collect, trade, and own unique Immortal NFTs representing chess pieces. This integration added layers of strategy and complexity, appealing to both chess enthusiasts and blockchain aficionados alike.
Despite raising an impressive $12 million last year from notable investors like TCG Crypto and Kraken Ventures, the platform has decided to distance itself from the crypto space entirely. To date, Immortal Game has secured a total of $15.5 million in funding. However, the Checkmate token has seen a staggering 73% drop in price this year, with significant losses occurring in the current quarter, according to CryptoRank data. Previously, players could earn $CMT through victories, but now, Immortal chess piece NFTs will only function in “Immortal mode.”
Luxo explained that the initial introduction of crypto elements aimed to reward the community, but the lack of entry barriers led to an increase in cheating, ultimately degrading the experience for legitimate players. “We cannot stand by and let this cheating happen any longer,” Luxo stated. “While we’ll still explore Web3 and decentralized technologies for anti-cheat measures and community engagement, our primary focus is to advance our chess platform, ensuring a fair and enjoyable environment for all players.”
Cheating has become a pervasive issue across competitive gaming, both in Web2 and Web3. The allure of financial rewards often exacerbates the problem, prompting Immortal’s decision to align with a broader trend. A recent Game7 report revealed that nearly 50 blockchain games halted development this year, and many others have reconsidered their approach to emphasize crypto-free versions to comply with Steam store restrictions.
Immortal’s move follows similar decisions by other gaming platforms, including Neopets and Gran Saga: Unlimited, highlighting a growing sentiment among game studios to distance themselves from crypto initiatives after initial investments. As of now, the Immortal team has not responded to requests for further comments, leaving the gaming community intrigued about the platform’s future trajectory in the ever-evolving landscape of blockchain integration in gaming.
As the dust settles, players and investors alike are left wondering: what does the future hold for Immortal Game in a world where the intersection of gaming and cryptocurrency is becoming increasingly complex?