Chaosium Suspends NFT Plans

After widespread backlash across social media, Chaosium has announced that it has suspended its plans for future NFT releases.

All of us at Chaosium are deeply concerned by the issues raised around the VeVe digital collectable releases from last July. We take these concerns very seriously—our fans and the communities built around Chaosium are our lifeblood. We go back a long way, and that means a lot to us. We want to make sure you are comfortable with the way we do business.

While we address the concerns of the tabletop gaming community we have halted our plans for future NFT releases.

Let’s go through what’s happened to date:

• In early 2019 we began discussions with VeVe. At the time NFTs and digital collectables were relatively unknown tech (at least in the TTRPG sphere).
• VeVe is managed by long-time fans and collectors, and we completed multiple rounds of due diligence before deciding to move forward and granting VeVe a license to sell digital collectables based on our IP. It is notable that VeVe’s other NFT licensors include Disney, Marvel, DC Comics, Warner Bros., Star Trek, Star Wars, Cartoon Network, Adventure Time, James Bond, GhostBusters, and many other leading popular culture brands. VeVe even has a license from the United States Postal Service.
• The environmental impact of VeVe's NFTs was crucial in our decision making. VeVe operates on a blockchain platform, (Immutable X), that is carbon neutral. The creation of VeVe NFTs, and their trading takes place “off-chain,” reducing the environmental footprint of VeVe NFTs by 99.9% when compared to those minted on Ethereum.
• Chaosium publicized VeVe’s initial offering (July 2021) across all of our social channels. Our announcements didn’t receive much attention from the gaming press or TTRPG community, but the release was successful and well received, demonstrating an enthusiastic and sizable community of Cthulhu fans on VeVe.
• With our licensee TYPE40, we built an NFT creation model that is protective and respectful of the artists involved—the digital collectables created for VeVe are all entirely new and original. The artists involved share fully in the proceeds of their sale.

However, we understand that a lot has changed since we started down this road in 2019. The issues relating to NFTs are increasingly complex and controversial. In recent months, the debate has become prominent and contentious. Bad actors in this sphere have received widespread coverage. Many people are justifiably baffled, incredulous, and deeply skeptical.

Based on both our research and experience with them, we believe that VeVe is an ethical company, pioneering a new digital community for collectors which uses this distributed ledger technology in a legitimate, meaningful, and environmentally responsible way.

We appreciate that many of our fans are angry and disappointed. We hear you. Your concerns must be listened to and addressed. That is why, in cooperation with TYPE40 and VeVe, we have made the decision outlined above. We do not have another scheduled release on VeVe or any other NFT marketplace. We will never require anyone to own an NFT/digital collectible to enjoy any Chaosium product or game.

Thank you for sharing your feedback. Thank you for patiently waiting for our reply. So much passion for what we do is a good thing. It’s been that way since 1975, and in this digital age we remain The Chaosium.

 

[eyeheartawk]

Reading this sure makes it sounds like they are just doing this "for now". Sure reads like they are still really high on this whole VeVe thing in general.

 

[Professor Murder]

Yeah. I do feel that many people who were upset with Chaosium over this are not separating the NFT offering from them despite being a licensing issue. I am glad they are stepping back, at least for now.

 

[darjr]

Folks, they have folks who’ve “invested” in digital “collectibles”. I think they are trying to not anger those folks. I read that suggestion elsewhere and it makes sense to me.

I’m glad they stopped.

But yea I’m going to keep my eyes open.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

I am glad they listened to the ... well, let's say the impassioned and overwhelming feedback.

That said, and without rehashing the debate in the other thread (which contains links), I want to make sure people understand and do their due diligence when they see references to "environmentally conscious" or "carbon neutral."

This tech is not, and cannot be, environmentally friendly. So when you see these statements, it means the following (either separately or together)-

1. They are buying carbon offsets. That's great! Good for them. But that's the same thing as someone saying, "Sure, this monster truck gets 10 gallons to the mile and dumps crude oil straight on to the road, but it's carbon neutral and environmentally friendly because I buy carbon offsets." The other problem is that the carbon offsets usually only account for the transactions- the actual environmental costs are much greater, because of the amount of waste that goes into mining and gas (it requires hardware, the hardware has short lifespans because it needs to be upgraded on a regular basis, etc.). It's not just a power issue, it's a growing e-waste problem.

2. They are using some sort of third party- usually referred to for these purposes as a Layer 2 (a layer on "top" of the blockchain), in order to avoid doing single transactions. Which, you know, great. But remember how the whole problem that blockchain "solves" is decentralization? Well, guess what- Layer 2 (and other techs that are springing up) means that you are dealing with ... a centralized point ... that can be attacked and fail.


All that said, please do your research, and continue to support the artists and the creatives in the TTRPG space with your patronage and your money.

They work hard to give us the products that we love.

 

[Grendel_Khan]

Just want to point out that, in the other, now closed thread, there was at least one person sort of shrugging at the backlash--that it was just a small number of loudmouths complaining, who cares, not going to matter.

Well it did. It's a small industry, so it's possible to get the attention of even the largest players within it.

 

[Undrave]

We HAVE to vehemently attack any company trying o step into the NFT scam if we don't want that naughty word to spread everywhere like a plague. The people already invested constantly need new blood to buy in if they wish to cash out, so they'll do anything to convince corporations there is money to be made. The corporations aren't dumb, they'll go where there is money, but if we make sure they'll lose money by getting into NFTs to please a tiny vocal minority, they should back out.

We just need to hold until the whole scheme collapse and the small minority of suckers are left holding the bag.

 

[Jer]

Ah the NFT cycle. Announce that you're releasing an NFT, take a massive PR hit among the people who actually care about your product, start walking it back.

 

[darjr]

Ah the NFT cycle. Announce that you're releasing an NFT, take a massive PR hit among the people who actually care about your product, start walking it back.

Yea, hopefully folks begin to notice.

 

[Jer]

Yea, hopefully folks begin to notice.

I literally just want one of these announcements to indicate exactly what they are doing with an NFT in a way where I can go "oh, sure - that's something interesting and worthwhile that is worth the energy it's going to take to keep it running indefinitely".

Instead every one of them falls into two camps - companies where I don't think that the folks writing up the announcement know what they're doing with an NFT release, and companies where their release feels like someone trying to get me to buy into Amway. Neither of which are a good look for a company.