S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl Will Feature NFTs, including One That Turns Its Owner Into an NPC

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Image: GSC Game World

GSC Game World is getting into the NFT business with its upcoming post-apocalyptic shooter, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl.

Set for release on PC and Xbox Series X|S next year, GSC Game World confirmed today via a press release that its highly anticipated sequel will be one of the first AAA games to leverage non-fungible tokens, a trending blockchain technology that’s relevant for establishing authenticity and proof of ownership. Among the unique items is a special NFT that will allow its owner to become an NPC in the game, which GSC Game World has dubbed “the first metahuman.”

From GSC Game World:

In partnership with Los Angeles-based DMarket, a platform for trading NFTs and technology for metaverse creation, GSC will use blockchain technology to let the community own a piece of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. The rights to certain unique items will belong to players and it is the first time for the AAA video game.

Beginning in December 2021, users may register for item drops that will evolve into a new gaming feature built on top of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. The first drop will take place via auction and is scheduled for January, 2022. As part of the drop series, the first-ever metahuman will be released and exposed to hundreds of millions of gamers worldwide. In-game, the metahuman will appear as an ‘NPC’, or a non-playable character. The face of the real owner will be recreated in the game by using photogrammetry technology, resulting in the highest possible level of realism.

“Considering the global trends in gaming, we can do more than just offer an immersive game experience. Our players can get a deeper presence in the game, and we will give them this opportunity by presenting the first AAA game with a unique meta experience,” says Evgeniy Grygorovych, CEO of GSC Game World.

“Video game developers worldwide are expressing their intentions in using the blockchain and other beneficial technologies while GSC is already there,” said Vlad Panchenko, CEO and co-founder at DMarket. “The company is adding a unique layer and bringing their game to a whole new level into the global Metaverse and Web 3.0 dimension. With the joint efforts of GSC and DMarket, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 will become a game of the future and a game for the community.”

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl will be released for the PC and Xbox Series X|S platforms on April 28, 2022. It is powered by Unreal Engine 5.

Source: DMarket

Tsing Mui
News poster at The FPS Review.

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