Square Enix's Symbiogenesis Is an 'NFT Collectible Art' Experience, Not a Parasite Eve Revival

Square Enix has officially announced Symbiogenesis, a new NFT collectible art project that’s coming in Spring 2023 alongside a free browser service.

"Symbiogenesis is brand-new entertainment content set in a self-contained world where a wide cast of characters symbiosis, all of which can be collected as digital art; an interactive story and a dedicated community," Square Enix says in a statement. "The art can be used for social media profile pictures (PFP) and as a character in a story that takes place in an alternate world where the player can ’untangle’ a mystery by completing missions that revolve around questions of the monopolization and distribution of resources. With each strategic move players make, more of the story unfolds."

NFT Collectible Art Project
SYMBIOGENESIS
Untangle the Story
Spring 2023#SYMBIOGENESIS #symgeNFT #NFT #NFTProjects pic.twitter.com/Kk1JvMdQx4

— SYMBIOGENESIS (@symbiogenesisPR) November 3, 2022

Not much else is known about this Web3 project, but last month, Square Enix trademarked Symbiogenesis in Japan. It was rumored to be some sort of Parasite Eve revival due to the word Symbiogenesis meaning a process where two separate organisms combine to create one. Notably, this process is the basis for Parasite Eve’s story.

Those who were hoping for a new Parasite Eve game will undoubtedly be disappointed. Square Enix already mentioned it was interested in dabbling in blockchain games. Square Enix president Yosuke Matsuda ushered in 2022 with a New Year’s letter explaining how the metaverse would be an upcoming hot topic within the games industry and for the company. And then earlier this year, the company also sold a Cloud Strife figure that doubled as an NFT.

The last Parasite Eve game was The 3rd Birthday, which was released in 2011 for the PlayStation Portable.

George Yang is a freelance writer for IGN. He's been writing about the industry since 2019 and has worked with other publications such as Insider, Kotaku, NPR, and Variety.

When not writing about video games, George is playing video games. What a surprise! You can follow him on Twitter @Yinyangfooey