I’ll never forget walking into a tiny indie art collective in Yogyakarta a few years ago. There are so many talented artists there. Last year they had a hard time just keeping the doors open, dependent on pitiful tourist-season sales and sporadic grants. Their stories, filled with passion and frustration, highlight a global issue: the traditional art world often gatekeeps, favoring established names and leaving countless talented creators in the shadows. Is Web3, with all of its promises of decentralization and disruption, the answer to opening up pathways to success for these artists? Or is it just another gilded cage?
Empowerment Or Corporate Co-option?
Square Enix's decision to shift Symbiogenesis to Sony's Soneium blockchain raises that very question. At first glance, Soneium’s vision – a decentralized, collaborative ecosystem where “everyone is a creator” – seems like the dream. Let’s face it—how much of that “all of us” actually reaches the hardscrabble artist in Yogyakarta? How about the would-be video game designer in Manila? Or is it just a fitted cap to appease the bigwigs over at gargantuan companies like Square Enix, who are just wanting to expand their pockets’ cash flow?
Soneium promises collaboration between games, interoperability between virtual assets, and collaborative ownership of creative work. They're connecting Symbiogenesis, a game that, let's face it, hasn't exactly set the world on fire, with other games like Evermoon and Sleepagotchi, offering rewards and status to players who complete quests. Is this the real thing–true collaboration, partnership, and collective impact–or one deceitful cross-promotion wrapped in empowerment language? It makes this whole project feel like one big, high-tech cereal box prize. These awards provide access to “exclusive” materials in adjunct commercial enterprises.
This concept of NFTs allowing for the continuation of benefits from game to game is definitely an exciting idea, though I am concerned about accessibility. How many artists in Southeast Asia have the resources and technical know-how to navigate the complex world of blockchain, smart contracts, and NFT marketplaces? Soneium has a real case to make that it’s not simply in the business of constructing an upscale play area for the crypto-affluents. They need to do more than occasionally feature the newest talent out there. With the right tools and resources, they can set these artists up to flourish.
Flagship Project Or Marketing Gimmick?
Sony has referred to Symbiogenesis as its “flagship Web3 entertainment project.” That’s quite a claim to make about such a critically well received game. Web3 smart cities: Passion project or something more? Not that I would know earth-shattering news if I stepped in it, but color me skeptical. The reality that Square Enix was apparently willing to give up on Symbiogenesis indicates the former. Now, all of a sudden, it’s a flagship project because it can be hooked up with other, just as niche, blockchain games?
The story of Symbiogenesis, told through 10,000 character NFTs and over a million words of branching interactive lore, is enchanting. Quantity doesn't equal quality. Will this ambitious tapestry really succeed in connecting with players on an emotional level? Or will it turn into a confusing gauntlet, mostly designed to funnel NFT purchases?
Here's the unexpected connection I see: This whole situation reminds me of the early days of reality TV. Cast your mind back to when networks pledged to uplift everyday folks and their stories. What we received instead was a contest of staged theatrics and prepackaged storylines all calculated to draw the most eyeballs possible. I’m worried that Soneium, with its hope of new models for creative ownership, would be doomed to this same fate.
Southeast Asia's Web3 Shot At Success?
For artists based in Southeast Asia, Web3 is a double-edged sword offering huge potential benefits while posing severe risks. On one hand, it presents extraordinary opportunities to circumvent traditional gatekeepers and reach a global audience. Connectivity gaps, regulatory uncertainty, and a general lack of understanding of blockchain technology will delay its adoption. These challenges pose very real barriers that must be overcome.
We need to ask ourselves: Is Soneium truly addressing these challenges, or is it simply paying lip service to the idea of supporting emerging artists in developing regions? The real question is, what are they doing? They want to make sure artists from Southeast Asia have as much access to the platform and its resources as everyone else.
The anger brewing in me is this: If Soneium fails to prioritize genuine inclusivity, it risks perpetuating the same inequalities that plague the traditional art world. Web3 could help democratize access to these creative opportunities. It would be a tragedy if it just becomes another tool for the wealthy and powerful to further entrench their dominance.
The clock is ticking. With Symbiogenesis integrating with Evermoon and Sleepagotchi in a limited-time quest for a commemorative NFT, the pressure is on for Square Enix and Soneium to prove their commitment to emerging artists.
My call to action is simple: Support emerging artists in the Web3 space. Require transparency and accountability from all corporations that are looking to enter the ecosystem. Let’s make sure that Web3 fulfills its promise of true empowerment, rather than just being the latest shiny object for marketers to throw around. Don't let the hype distract you from the real question: Who is truly benefiting from this technological revolution?
