Billed as the first "NFT game console," the Polium One was announced on Monday, but the device has already come under quite a bit of criticism from the gaming public. While some people have complained about Polium One's ties to NFTs in general, others are far more annoyed that the logo for the new console looks quite a bit like the logo for the defunct but still beloved Nintendo GameCube.
Web3 company Polium is producing the Polium One, and it's being billed as a console that will be powerful enough to run "high-performance games." The company also said in its announcement of the new device that it would be simple enough that people who aren't familiar with Web3 will still be able to play this console. Those interested in getting their hands on the Polium One will supposedly be able to do so in Q3 2024, as long as they first buy a "Polium Pass," which is an NFT on the Ethereum network. The company said there would be 10,000 of these Polium Passes minted at first.
The idea that gamers would have to get involved with NFT sales led to plenty of backlash, but the real issue from most people was the console's design rather than how they'd be able to purchase it. The design itself is relatively simple, with the console itself looking like a small box and the controller appearing to be quite a bit like other basic consoles of this generation. However, the logo of the Polium One drew ire, with more than a few people calling it a straight ripoff of the GameCube logo.
Several people took to social media to show how similar the two logos are. The NFT video game console makers did try to push back by pointing out that the GameCube's logo had a "G." In contrast, the Polium One has a "P." Apparently, realizing that explanation wasn't enough to get people off its back, the company eventually also tweeted that there are quite a few companies that are using very similar logos and the intention was never to copy the GameCube.
The backlash to this type of console is hardly surprising, considering a substantial segment of the gaming public is aligned against NFTs. The resistance to this kind of tech being used in video games has led to some companies, such as Blizzard, making it very clear they won't deal with NFTs.
Should Polium be able to move past the controversy around the logo for the Polium One, there are still quite a few questions about the upcoming console. So far, there hasn't been any announcement about games and whether it will focus on specific NFT games or if it will be working out deals with publishers and developers on existing titles. Should the project move forward, that's one of the big questions that will need to be answered.
The Polium One is slated for release in late 2024.
Source: VideoGamesChronicle