Ubisoft is at it again. What a terrible world MMNFT might create. Holy crap, MMNFT is back, becoming the new hottest NFT game. It emerges from the ashes of two failed Web3 projects that were roundly denounced by the gaming audience. Of note, they’re dangling a carrot in front of us with the Might & Magic franchise. Well, after 11 long years, a return is finally on the horizon! Is it really a triumphant return, or simply a cynical exploitation of our fond memories? Does this new wave of NFT adoption really put artists in control? Instead, does it just line the coffers of Ubisoft and Immutable?
Web3 Inevitable, Or Just Inevitable Fail?
A Ubisoft employee’s tone-deaf proclamation that “Web3 gaming is inevitable” rings particularly hollow given most gamers’ pronounced opposition to the notion. Inevitable at times reads more like an extortion notice than a crystal ball. That misses the point and the real concerns people have about the environmental impact of blockchain. Furthermore, it completely overlooks the speculative aspect of NFTs, as well as their potential for scams and exploitation. It’s akin to informing a person whose health is threatened by sugar consumption that their diabetes diagnosis is a foregone conclusion. Is it really helpful?
Web3’s decentralized ownership enables more direct relationships between creators and their fans. It offers an alternative revenue stream altogether, one that functions outside the need for the traditional political gatekeepers. Is Ubisoft really delivering on that pledge in practice? Or are they just creating a gated garden that lets them continue to control the flow of value?
As someone who has worked for several years producing hackathons, and working with emerging artists, particularly in Southeast Asia, I've seen firsthand the challenges they face—lack of funding, limited access to markets, and the constant struggle to be seen and heard. Blockchain could be a game-changer for them. NFTs would offer them a new medium to monetize their art, foster a worldwide community of fans, and keep more ownership of their work.
The truth is a lot more nuanced. Many NFT projects have been driven by speculation, pump-and-dump schemes, and the absence of true artistic merit. They turn into casinos for creativity, instead of platforms where art can flourish. Is Might & Magic Fates another victim of this trap?
Nostalgia: A Powerful, Dangerous Drug
Might & Magic isn’t just notable out of nostalgia from gamers. It’s a franchise rich with history, lore, and tactical depth. Tying it to NFTs in any way, shape, or form feels sacrilegious — like taking a beloved classic painting and tagging it with graffiti. The “optional Web3 layer” sounds like a bad flyaway meant to disguise the stated avarice of the whole enterprise.
This isn't just about Might & Magic. Yet now corporations are actively attempting to cram NFTs into their already popular franchises. While they want to leverage all that built-in nostalgia and make money fast. It's like Disney selling "limited edition" NFT Mickey Mouse ears – a blatant attempt to extract value from something already beloved.
Therein lies the issue. The second any of that can happen, nostalgia is a hell of a, dangerous drug. It can severely distort our thinking and make us more vulnerable to those who seek to manipulate us. We’re looking for this new Might & Magic game to recapture the magic of the originals. There are some major red flags with this NFT integration.
Consider how this relates to the art world. Imagine, for instance, that a famous art museum were to announce that it would begin selling all of its paintings as NFTs. Most excitingly, the museum will receive a percentage from each transaction! Would that empower artists? Or would it just make art another speculative asset, available only to the very rich? Thus the art becomes less about the artistic value and much more about the monetary value.
Empowerment Requires More Than Buzzwords
So, where does this leave us?Might & Magic Fates would have attracted a lot of talent and imagination. Specifically, they can produce and trade digital creations directly inside their favorite game.Maybe artists would be willing to create custom card backs, new decks, or special edition cards, with the potential of receiving royalties with every resale.But that requires a genuine commitment from Ubisoft to support and promote these artists, to actively curate the NFT marketplace, and to ensure that artists receive a fair share of the revenue.
Instead of blindly dumping NFTs into play, Ubisoft needs to do a better job of fostering a community. And indeed it is an artist-friendly community. Here, creativity flourishes, and the emphasis is on creating impactful experiences rather than purely seeking profit.
To truly empower and embolden artists, Ubisoft needs to go beyond their actions thus far. Just to pay lip service to the concept won’t do it. They need to invest in education, provide mentorship opportunities, and create a transparent and equitable system for artists to participate in the Web3 space. They need to show that they are not just exploiting nostalgia, but genuinely committed to supporting the next generation of creative talent.
Ultimately, the success of Might & Magic Fates will depend on whether it can deliver on the promise of Web3 — genuine empowerment for artists. Or will it be just another cautionary tale of corporate greed camouflaged as innovation? The gaming community, and the art world, are waiting with bated breath. The price of that disappointment will be a failure, and indeed an abject and thoroughgoing loss, of faith. And in the long term, that’s a cost no business can bear.
