SoftBank Joins Oasys in Blockchain Partnership

Japanese multinational investment firm SoftBank has joined gaming-optimised blockchain Oasys as an official validator.

Validators verify transactions on the blockchain before they can be added to the ledger.

Bandai Namco Research, SEGA, Square Enix, Netmarble, and 17 other companies are among the 21 initial validators for Oasys.

SoftBank joins as a validator but the partnership will see both companies explore potential collaboration, including the development of blockchain-based services in the future.

Oasys plans to invite other companies of a "high level of trust and performance on a global scale" to participate as validators. Four more companies will be joining in the next batch of validators.

The firm also plans to further decentralise the network by enabling public participation through a council and removing the limit on the number of validator slots as long as the necessary requirements are being met.

Keiichi Makizono, SoftBank senior vice president and CIO, cited the Oasys blockchain's "flexible, user-centric architecture" as a draw for the firm.

Blockchain gaming focus

Just last month, Oasys launched a new ecosystem fund to boost start-ups and drive mass adoption of blockchain gaming.

Oasys believes that the adoption of blockchain gaming is dependent on mainstream gaming companies getting involved.

"Japanese gaming giant SEGA has provided the IP rights for a blockchain-based video game, titled Sangokushi Taisen, which will be built on the Oasys blockchain," Oasys director Daiki Moriyama previously told Blockhead.

"In 2023, we can expect to see a number of major game titles released by these large companies, which will likely contribute to the mass adoption of blockchain games."

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"The success of the blockchain gaming industry will largely depend on the success of major game titles released by established companies," he continues.