There’s a new competitor to Steam in the PC game distribution ring, and it’s packing a blockchain punch. Ultra Games, led by CEO Nicolas Gilot, is positioning itself as a revolutionary platform that could dethrone the industry giant. In an interview with Tech Path, Gilot spoke on the future of Ultra and how it may actually benefit from Steam’s hard stance on blockchain.
Gilot laid out Ultra’s vision for a more equitable and engaging gaming ecosystem in the interview. While acknowledging the challenge posed by Steam‘s dominant position, he expressed confidence in Ultra’s unique selling points. Ultra embraces blockchain technology in hopes of empowering both gamers and developers.
Through tokenized games and in-game assets, Ultra tries to give players true ownership and the opportunity to trade their digital treasures freely. This opens up doors for unique monetization models, allowing players to profit from their playtime. It’s an interesting way of looking at it, instead of the usual ‘this costs money because we say so’ approach.
Developers, meanwhile, benefit from a wider audience and the potential for additional revenue streams through secondary sales. Ultra also wants to prioritize seamless user experience. Gilot said that his blockchain store removes the complexities and fees often associated with blockchain, ensuring a smooth and familiar experience for even non-crypto-savvy gamers. I can agree that some of those stores are hard to navigate and are a big reason I haven’t gotten into it all.
Ultra is also pushing a range of features beyond game distribution. Its marketplace facilitates the trading of in-game assets across different platforms, breaking down silos and fostering a more interconnected gaming landscape. Ultra Arena, its tournament platform, incentivizes engagement with tokenized rewards, including physical prizes like gaming chairs.
Ultra’s roadmap is ambitious, and they’re even moving to take on Google and Apple through mobile. Ultra is looking at the mobile gaming market as its next step. SocialFi features are planned to enhance community interaction and build a more vibrant ecosystem. While VR and AR remain in the distant sights, Ultra recognizes their potential and is keeping an eye on their evolution.
Whether Ultra can truly dethrone Steam remains to be seen. But with its innovative approach, blockchain-powered features, and focus on user experience, Ultra Games is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with. The competition for PC game distribution is about to get a whole lot more interesting.
