Sony is saying goodbye to physical games starting in 2028. But the real news might be something else: it already has a blockchain, Soneium. Coincidence?
You've probably heard that Sony announced that starting in 2028, all new PlayStation games will be distributed exclusively in digital format. Games already released on disc will continue to exist, but for new releases, the era of physical media will end. I'm a fan of physical media (CDs, LPs, merchandise, games, etc.) because I'm a collector, but as I'm also a huge blockchain enthusiast, I believe tokenization is a crucial step for any physical object to facilitate ownership and transferability.
Some people believe that by purchasing a "digital" game, they become its owner. In reality, in most cases, you're buying a license to use it, not the software itself. With a disc, you own the physical media; with digital, you own the right to use it according to the platform's terms.
Today, the model works like this:
1) Disc: You own the physical media + a license; you can resell the disc on secondary markets or add to your collection.
2) Digital: You own a license tied to your PlayStation account, which is generally non-transferable and non-resellable. Essentially, if the license expires, you also lose the ability to play.
From 2028, only the second option will remain for new PlayStation games. How will license ownership be managed? Today, it's entirely controlled by the platform: access, transferability, and availability depend on the publisher's ecosystem. As with digital music on Spotify, if the rights expire, you lose access.
In this regard, a technology Sony is investing in could come into play: blockchain. Sony has invested in Soneium, the blockchain developed together with Startale, with the aim of building Web3 infrastructure. What could be the use cases?
• cryptographic proof of game ownership;
• tokenized licenses transferable between users;
• Interoperable assets between titles;
• Official marketplaces with automatic royalties for publishers and developers.
• Persistent identity and game progress across titles;
Blockchain could be used to more efficiently manage digital property. Does it still make sense for digital property to be managed exclusively by a centralized server, or could a blockchain like Soneium offer a more transparent and verifiable model? I'd say the answer is obvious.
SONEIUM CHAIN
Soneium is currently an EVM chain accessible via Metamask or Rabby Wallet. If you want to transfer $ETH to Soneium, you can use the bridge Relay Link and then from there (or on Startale itself) you can sell $ETH for USDSC and start farming STAR points.
There are ongoing monthly quests that allow you to earn badges by reaching 80 points (quests change month after month). This suggests that those who use the chain could receive rewards in the future.
It's also possible to earn STAR points using the Startale infrastructure simply by depositing stablecoins (Startale uses Uniswap pools). In this case, in the "earn" section on Startale, you have two options:
1) 5% return on USDSC.
2) Earn 0.10 STAR points for every $10 deposited (multiplier up to 2x based on deposit time. You'll start earning STAR points after 30 days of deposit and up to the 2x boost. Liquidity is instantly withdrawable, with no lockouts).
I'd like to point out that badges (see above) are separate from STAR points. The badges listed above are earned by reaching at least 80 points each month on Soneium Portal (by completing simple quests), while STAR points can be earned by depositing USDSC or by completing other monthly quests that Startale adds from time to time. I think future rewards could be very interesting.
Article always updated with all the possibilities of on-chain farming (airdrop): Some Sites To Earn Crypto Bonus (Old & New)
