Ubisoft’s NFT Offensive: The Hidden Strategy Behind Might & Magic: Fates
With Might & Magic: Fates, Ubisoft not only brings back a legendary brand, but also ventures once again into controversial territory. The game combines classic tactical elements of a trading card game with Web3 technology – including NFT integration. What looks at first glance like just another digital card game turns out, on closer inspection, to be part of a larger strategy by the publisher.
Might & Magic: Fates – What Makes the New Game Stand Out
With Might & Magic: Fates, Ubisoft brings the popular fantasy franchise into a new genre – the digital trading card game. The title will be released on mobile and PC and is designed to be accessible to everyone. Nevertheless, the game promises a deep and thoughtful experience – in the spirit of classic tactical games, but with a modern twist.
The main gameplay feature is of course a strategic duel mode. You need to choose factions and heroes, build a deck, and strengthen your units with artifacts. A unique feature is that the game doesn’t use the classic mana system but replaces it with a gold system. Resources are generated by the cards themselves, giving deck-building a new tactical layer. Hero abilities also play a central role and can dramatically shift the course of a match.
Visually, the game evokes a dark, detailed fantasy aesthetic. This can be placed somewhere between classic Might & Magic titles and modern digital card games. The user interface was specifically optimized for touch and mouse controls, making it ideal for both mobile and PC players. According to Ubisoft, the game should be “strategically demanding but easy to pick up.” This makes it appealing to both casual and hardcore gamers.
From Cards to Crypto: How NFTs Are Integrated
Might & Magic: Fates is not just a bold move for the Might & Magic series, but also for Ubisoft. They are integrating Web3 technologies into the game. Specifically, they are integrating NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) into the gameplay. You can own the cards you earn in-game as tradeable assets on the blockchain. This means you can sell your cards to other players and buy cards for yourself.
The technical foundation is provided by Ubisoft’s new partner Immutable, a company that specializes in Web3 gaming. Immutable is known for games like Gods Unchained or Guild of Guardians. Fates will run on Immutable zkEVM, an Ethereum-compatible layer-2 solution that offers low fees and fast transactions – with a strong focus on sustainability.
However, it’s important to note that blockchain functionality is completely optional. If you’re not interested in NFTs, you can enjoy the game in a completely traditional way. Every card can also be unlocked or purchased in-game without needing a wallet or crypto integration.
If you do decide to step into the Web3 world, you can trade or own your cards on Immutable. This allows you to unlock specific cards instantly or collect them long-term. There’s also a good chance you might be able to use them in future Ubisoft or Web3 ecosystems. But there is no gameplay advantage for NFT holders. The cards are cosmetically identical and follow the same rules.
Ubisoft’s Quiet NFT Push – And What It Really Means
Ubisoft doesn’t see NFTs as a selling point of the game, but rather as a step towards digital ownership. The goal is to give players more control over their in-game items, a concept that is increasingly gaining traction under the term “Play-to-Own.” And the idea isn’t all that far-fetched. If you collect Pokémon or Magic the Gathering cards in real life, you can also sell them in real life.
But Might & Magic: Fates is not the first game where Ubisoft wanted to integrate blockchain technology. Their first attempt came in 2021 with the controversial Quartz project, a platform where players could collect Digits (NFT-based in-game items) in Ghost Recon: Breakpoint. The community’s response was largely negative. There was poor communication, a lack of added value, and technical hurdles.
Despite this failure, Ubisoft didn’t give up on its NFTs. At the end of 2023, they announced Champions Tactics: Grimoria Chronicles. This is a turn-based multiplayer NFT battle game with Web3 elements. Once again, they relied on Immutable and an optional NFT model.
So why is Ubisoft leaning more and more into NFTs? Ubisoft’s strategic approach with Fates is a long-term “Play-to-Own” philosophy. The goal isn’t short-term profit from crypto hype, but the establishment of digital property rights in gaming. Similar to collectibles or skins, only now with actual ownership based on blockchain. And this topic is more relevant than ever. We all remember last year’s debates about Steam games. On Steam, for example, you can only buy licenses and don’t really own the game, but with NFTs, the items actually belong to you.
Hey, I’m Kilian, but online you’ll probably know me as “Tux1243.” I've been part of the team for almost two years now, always trying to keep you in the loop with the latest and coolest gaming news. I also have a huge passion for doing deep dives and detailed analyses of entire game series and franchises. I love getting to the bottom of things and exploring the little details and backstories that make game worlds so fascinating.
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