After meeting certain criteria, blockchain and NFT games will be available in the Google Play store.
A new era is dawning for the Google Play Store as it opens its platform to non-fungible token (NFT) video games and blockchain-based digital content.
The significant policy shift was announced in a July 12th blog post by Joseph Mills, the Group Product Manager of the Google Play Store.
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According to Mills, Google Play Store has decided to embrace the innovative potential of blockchain-based gaming.
Mills revealed in his post that the store's policy had been updated to enable the transaction of blockchain-based digital content within its hosted apps and games. This shift includes facilitating user engagement through the introduction of exclusive NFT rewards.
Mills' post underlined the need for developers to explicitly indicate if their game facilitates the earning or purchasing of NFTs or cryptocurrencies. The policy strictly prohibits developers from glorifying any potential earnings from playing or trading activities. Gambling elements, such as selling loot boxes, are also not permissible under the new guidelines.
It's worth noting that in the past, Google Play Store has shown a tough stance against crypto-related apps. In 2018, the platform banned crypto mining apps, and in 2020, it took down the Bitcoin Blast video game, accusing it of "deceptive practices."
Apple's App Store also issued regulations in October 2022, stating that NFTs procured outside its platform could not grant users any exclusive advantages in a game, or it would result in the game's ban. Furthermore, NFTs sold within the App Store games are subject to a 30% fee levied by Apple.
These decisions previously led industry pundits to speculate that mobile NFT games were in jeopardy. However, the recent policy modification from Google Play Store proves that these games have a place on Android devices.
Google Play Store's recent policy adjustment allowing NFT games represents a monumental step in the integration of blockchain technology and digital gaming, reflecting the continuous evolution of the gaming landscape.
