Rockstar Games released a statement late last month banning the use of NFTs in Grand Theft Auto Online. The GTA developer and its parent company, Take-Two Interactive, is also banning loot box and virtual currency sales on third-party GTA Online role-playing servers.
The announcement came as quite a blow to MyMetaverse CEO Simon Kertonegoro and his plan to allow players to earn NFTs on the game’s servers. In September, MyMetaverse launched playable NFTs in GTA Online and Minecraft servers. The Infinity Auto server allowed users to purchase rare vehicle NFTs and import them into the game as fully functioning vehicles for their avatar. MyMetaverse believed it was taking part in the future of gaming.
“Our ultimate dream was to collaborate with Rockstar and build a way for players to earn free items that they could own forever, give to their friends, and use in multiple games,” said Kertonegoro in a statement to GamesBeat. “In creating the Infinity Auto server, we saw ourselves as contributors to the GTA ecosystem.”
Kertonegoro shares his disappointment
Kertonegoro goes on to express his disappointment with Rockstar’s decision after receiving a letter from Rockstar asking MyMetaverse to cease all operations on the Infinity Auto Server.
“So, we have shut down our server and we’ll never relaunch it,” says Kertonegoro. “We want to do the right thing and respect Take-Two’s wishes; it was never our intent to upset them. We truly believed we were providing a service that was benefiting them.”
Kertonegoro has made it his personal mission over the last four years to prove how NFTs can provide excellent cross-game experiences. “I’ve sold my house and spent everything I own to try to prove this point,” he adds. “Today is a big loss for me, my team, and our players.”
Still, the MyMetaverse CEO states he believes Rockstar is a fantastic company and says Red Dead Redemption is one of his favorite games.
Jack Brassell is a freelance journalist and aspiring novelist. Jack is a self-proclaimed nerd with a lifelong passion for storytelling. As an author, Jack writes mostly horror and young adult fantasy. Also an avid gamer, she works as the lead news editor at Hardcore Droid. When she isn't writing or playing games, she can often be found binge-watching Parks & Rec or The Office, proudly considering herself to be a cross between Leslie Knope and Pam Beasley.
