Legendary game designer Yu Suzuki is working on a series of NFTs based on Virtua Fighter, the series he helped to create in the early '90s (thanks, VGC).
NFT firm OASYX is making 1,000 Virtua Fighter NFTs covering eleven characters from the first three games in the franchise. Suzuki worked on the series from its inception until his departure from Sega at the end of the 2000s.
OASYX has stated that the NFTs in question "will serve as a base for future Metaverse avatars," while Suzuki has issued the following statement on the news:
"During my time as a director at Sega, I initially developed Virtua Fighter using innovative 3D computer graphics technology, which was cutting-edge and industry-leading at the time. Since then, the Virtua Fighter series has grown to be loved by many players and continues to be supported by numerous fans today. Through my work supervising the development of OASYX’s unique worldview, I am delighted to combine innovative technology in the form of blockchain-based NFTs, with three titles from the Virtua Fighter series to create new entertainment for a wide range of gaming fans."
Sega has licenced the Virtua Fighter brand for this venture but doesn't seem to be directly involved. Companies like Konami and Square Enix have also dipped their toes into the NFT waters recently, usually with a hugely negative reaction from hardcore fans.