Game distribution platform Steam doesn’t want the bitcoin-infused online shooter Lightnite to release on their platform, game developer Satoshi’s Games announced in a blog. According to the statement from the game developer, Steam no longer wants to distribute or ‘ship’ crypto- and NFT-powered games.
“They have retired the app from the admin section. At this time, we do not even know how long the Store page will be up”, Carlos Roldan, founder and CEO of Satoshi’s Games wrote on their blog. However, Roldan points gamers towards the Elixir marketplace, which of course is Satoshi’s Games own product.
Before writing this article, we asked around whether other developers had similar experiences with Steam. However, Chainmonsters, Taurion and Synergy of Serra had no complains at all. Of course these products aren’t in the same development state of Lightnite, but they do actively promote the use of crypto and NFTs. None of them had received any messaging from Steam.
The problems between Steam and Satoshi’s Games can’t be based on the use of NFTs, because a simple search on Steam for the word ‘NFT’ already shows us familiar names. Think about for example Chainmonsters, but also Mist and Dragonary. Of course we could also find Age of Rust, as well as Dissolution, Taurion, Synergy of Serra, Project Genesis and Alterverse.
When you’re launching a game on Steam, you would need to upload the latest version to Steam. This version would then go through a systematic check. Most likely that’s when Steam flagged the game. Lightnite recently launched its latest game mode, battle royale. Satoshi’s Games uses Bitcoin’s Liquid Network for storage of the NFTs, while the game is filled with micropayment powered by the Bitcoin Lightning Network. This last element could be the real reason why Steam doesn’t allow them, because the team often promotes their game as a way to earn Bitcoin.
What is Lightnite?
Gamers who play Lightnite can earn bitcoin by shooting other players. However, they will lose bitcoin when they get shot. Players can sell some of the items found in the game for bitcoin as well. On top of that they can withdraw the bitcoin they earned in Lightnite immediately. Another example of a fine play-to-earn mechanic, even though you could potentially also lose sats of course.
Essentially Lightnite is a low-poly version of Fortnite, which means it’s a game in the battle royale genre. However, the game offers multiple game modes for different types of players. According to the development roadmap the game will have its official release later this summer.
In May the team announced that players can now trade NFTs. These NFTs are stored on the Liquid Network, and can for example be traded on Elixir Market. For the transactions during gameplay, Lightnite uses the Bitcoin Lightning Network. Start playing Lightnite now.
