Cryptocurrency and scammers have a long-lasting relationship, and it isn’t going to end any time soon. Now, it looks like there’s an unofficial Fortnite cryptocurrency circulating the crypto market without the knowledge of the Epic Games’ CEO, Tim Sweeney.
Tim Sweeney isn’t too happy with the token’s creators. The cryptocurrency in question is called Fortnite Token and first saw the light of day towards the end of 2021. With the big “F” and the resounding “Fortnite” logo font, there’s not a shred of doubt the creators didn’t intend to pass itself off as the “official” project of the popular battle royale.
The creators of Fortnite Token have been able to promote the currency at an alarming rate without alerting anyone at Epic for quite some time. Their Twitter profile is filled with the promotion of their NFT project. It was just recently that Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, got wind of this project.
Sweeney picked up on the Fortnite Token’s activity on May 29, 2022, when the team tweeted out an OpenSea market link to sell the tokens acquired via the Fortnite Token’s website after minting. OpenSea is a popular NFT trading site where you can buy or sell NFTs.
Without any hesitation, Sweeney replied to the tweet with a straightforward “That’s a scam.” to which Fortnite Token replied, saying, “Fortnite Token isn’t a scam cryptocurrency project. Instead, this is a fair-launch, community-driven, Fortnite game fans-created cryptocurrency project with no specified owner or company structure behind it or a CEO deciding on its future.”
That’s not how trademarks and copyrights work though. You can’t use the Fortnite name and images without permission to market an unrelated product.
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) June 6, 2022
Sweeney replied, “That’s not how trademarks and copyrights work, though. You can’t use the Fortnite name and images without permission to market an unrelated product.” Suffice to say that Sweeney went over at least 3 to 4 tweets to reply the exact same.
Following the back and forth with the folks over at Fortnite Token’s Twitter, Sweeney tweeted that the Epic Games’ lawyers are already on the case.
There isn't a Fortnite cryptocurrency. The Twitter accounts promoting such a thing are a scam. Epic's lawyers are on it. Also, shame on the cryptocurrency marketplaces that enable this kind of thing.
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) June 6, 2022
And I guess the lawyers did an exceptional job as the token is not in the OpenSea marketplace anymore. Moreover, following the altercation, the Telegram channel of Fortnite Token has been removed as well.
Sweeney’s displeasure with the Fortnite Token does not mean he is against the idea of incorporating some form of cryptocurrency into the gaming mix. In response to a Twitter user accusing Sweeney of supporting the idea of having “a fortnite currency to sell to the 12 year olds,” Sweeney states that with emerging blockchain technology, some find good uses and some find negative uses of the same. He further added that an entire field shouldn’t be banned just because a few people use technology to influence others negatively.
When new technology emerges, some put it to good use, and others put it to bad use. It would be terribly shortsighted to ban an entire field of technology for such a reason.
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) June 6, 2022
In the above tweet, the Twitter user linked the article talking about an NFT-based game that is listed on Epic Games Store.
Sweeney’s stance on cryptocurrency isn’t diminishing, as he believes in it. This was indicated by a tweet back in October of 2021. Sweeney welcomed the idea of hosting games that operate and make use of blockchain as long as they follow “relevant laws.” He also made it clear that none of Epic games, such as Fortnite, will ever incorporate any form of crypto.
This was controversial, given Sweeney’s past comments about the integration of NFTs into games.
Replied:
We aren’t touching NFTs as the whole field is currently tangled up with an intractable mix of scams, interesting decentralized tech foundations, and scams.
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) September 27, 2021
Sweeney followed up with an explanation that might not make much sense for many. According to his past tweets, Epic Games has a clear distinction between the company as a game developer and a tech company. What he tried to convey was that while the developers will not go anywhere near the NFTs, the tech company is willing to accept NFTs with open arms. Yeah, we’re just as perplexed as you might be.
Here's part of a thread on the distinctions we make between Epic as a game developer and Epic as a provider of technology and services to others:https://t.co/sXmQyTXdrz
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) October 16, 2021
Thanks to Epic Games’ welcoming nature towards crypto-based games, a new NFT-based game called Grit will be listed on the Epic Games Store.
BREAKING: #NFT Gaming Platform @GoGalaGames announces partnership with @EpicGames to launch Battle Royale game Grit on the Epic Games Store! 🤯🔥
First NFT game integration between Web2 & Web3! Huge day for NFT gaming at #galaverse! 🥳 pic.twitter.com/SHTmnFiB2s
— Brycent (@brycent_) June 6, 2022
Despite the legal threat from Tim, Fortnite Token has doubled down on its efforts to promote the token.
At the end of it all, you are your own judge. It is important to research whatever project you’re investing in. It’s a vast space of digital occupancy out there filled with all kinds of people. Both bad and good reside, and you need to be wary in the digital space.
