PUBG development studio Krafton has announced a partnership with blockchain company Solana Labs. It said the deal will see the two companies collaborate on the development, operations, design and marketing of “blockchain and NFT-based games and services.” Solana Labs developed the Solana Blockchain, an Ethereum competitor designed to provide fast transaction speeds at low cost.
Krafton announced its intention to enter the world of blockchain gaming and said it would partner with Naver Z to build a new Web 3.0 and NFT project aimed at building an NFT metaverse platform.
Important context for these transactions is Krafton’s share price. The British Financial Times pointed out that the company’s share price has fallen sharply this year in the face of fierce competition from Chinese rivals, which are pouring into South Korea’s home market. In response, South Korean developers are reportedly racing to develop “game money” games that integrate blockchain technology to boost revenue.
Krafton has yet to announce which of its games might add blockchain functionality, or if it will be integrated into its PUBG franchise. The free PC version of the game is again attracting huge numbers of players, and PUBG Mobile has been downloaded more than 1 billion times. The second free PUBG mobile game, PUBG: New State, was released last year.
As we work to build the Web 3.0 ecosystem, Krafton will continue to look for ways to work closely with blockchain companies like Solana Labs,” said Hyungchul Park, Krafton’s Web 3.0 conference lead. “Solana represents the best of the Web 3.0 ecosystem. systems and their technology. Through this collaboration, Krafton will gain the insight it needs to accelerate its investment in and output of blockchain-based experiences.