F1 Delta Time was released before the NFT boom in 2019 and offered players a “play-to-win” experience with their Ethereum-based NFT. Only three years have passed, the game is closed, leaving players with worthless investments.
The officially licensed F1 game was geared towards racing fans and allowed them to live out their dream of owning their own team. Unlike most games with paid content, every item in F1 Delta Time, including things like tires, cars, and helmets, were NFTs paid for with the Ethereum-based REVV token. Most in-game items were not expensive, but some, like the "111" cars, sold for around $113.000. The pay model was mandatory to play and there was no way to build a team or race without purchasing NFT items.
The publisher of the game, Aminoca Brands, stated that the game will be closed and said, "It is with great sadness that we announce that F1 Delta Time will cease its activities on March 16, 2022. While we have not been able to renew our license, it will ensure that current owners of F1 Delta Time assets are rewarded for their loyalty and support.”
The news is disappointing for players who deposited real money because their virtual items were only valuable in-game and served no other purpose. Worse still, Aminoca Brands will not offer any refunds and players will be able to exchange their currently defunct holdings for tokens for other games like MotoGP Ignition and Revv Racing.
NFTs have been a controversial topic in the gaming community, and companies like EA Games have had to cancel their plans due to backlash. The end of F1 Delta Time shows us the risks involved and makes players think twice before buying these nfts.