Fault: Elder Orb Continues to be Allowed on Steam Despite Adding Blockchain Gaming

In October 2021, Valve updated Steam distribution onboarding guidelines and banned "applications built on blockchain technology that issue or allow exchange of cryptocurrencies or NFTs." At that time, this was a surprising move considering the fact that its rival Epic Games Store was open to the idea of including blockchain gaming titles in its store. But many crypto skeptics welcomed the ban.Despite this ban, one game named Fault: Elder Orb, an multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) continues to remain on Steam despite incorporating blockchain technology.

Fault: Elder Orb collaborates with Pocketful of Quarters

Developed and published by Strange Matter Studios, Fault: Elder Orb has collaborated with Pocketful of Quarters (PoQ), an organization that operates an "interoperable game token" called Quarters which operates on the Klaytn blockchain. These tokens can only be used to purchase in-game items in various games including titles other than Fault: Elder Orb.

Fault: Elder Orb’s adaptation of blockchain gaming is technically not a crypto currency, since players cannot sell the in-game tokens for real-world currency and can only transfer these tokens from title to title. So technically there are no play-to-earn elements present in the game despite this integration.

The game also ensures that this token system is completely optional. Even though this technicality allows the game to be on Steam there are still a few issues that border on Valve’s guidelines. For one, Quarters can be traded for rewards such as gift cards or game consoles, even though they cannot be cashed out for real money.

As the token cannot be exchanged for real world money or sold to other players they don’t count as cryptocurrency but the games’ Github page for Quarters and even the whitepaper refer to the tokens as a cryptocurrency.

Considering that Steam specifically states that blockchain games that “ issue or allow exchange of cryptocurrencies or NFTs” are the only ones that are banned from the platform, Fault: Elder Orb may stick around in the store in the long run. Valve is yet to address the matter.

Fault: Elder Orb is allowing you to choose your play style through the various characters. An adrenaline fuelled 5v5 arena match similar to Smite with an over the shoulder perspective. The focus is on maintaining the tactical strategy aspect of the classics with new innovations.

Players have to work in a team to fight off the minions and their opponents in each match while collecting gold to upgrade their gear. Players also have the opportunity to increase their character's stats and spend experience points on one of the four abilities that comes with each character.

Fault: Elder Orb Gameplay

Fault: Elder orb comes with 24 different characters among its roster that have detailed backstories including angelic robots, earth-bending mages, and other characters from other worlds. Players are encouraged to take advantage of their characters abilities to move through the intricate maps, even allowing verticality through a 3D map that allows players to go to upper levels on the map as compared to other MOBAs that restrict players to stick to the battle ground.

The game borrows many assets and gameplay elements from now-defunct Epic Games MOBA Paragon and could prove to be a worthy successor to the title if it launches its Free-to-Play mode in the right way.