Hey gamers! Get ready for some exciting news from Sony that could change the way we play and experience games in the future! Sony just launched a brand-new blockchain called Soneium, and it’s all about boosting Web3 in entertainment, gaming, and even finance.
What’s Soneium All About?
Sony has been cooking up something special with a $3.5 million investment in a Web3 incubator called Startale Labs, based in Singapore. The result? Soneium, a Layer-2 blockchain built on Ethereum. This is like adding a supercharged turbo boost to Web3 tech, which has been kind of overshadowed by all the buzz around AI lately.
Soneium was created by Sony Block Solutions Labs, which is a cool partnership between Sony Network Communications Labs and Startale Labs. Sony owns 90% of this team-up, and they announced it back in September 2023. The goal? To create awesome Web3 stuff using Startale’s blockchain skills and Sony’s experience in gaming, entertainment, and tech.
How Does Soneium Work?
Sony wants Soneium to be a public blockchain, meaning anyone can jump in and use it. They’re planning to launch a test network soon, where developers can build cool stuff like Web3 games, NFT marketplaces, and other entertainment-related services. With Sony’s big name in the gaming world, they might actually pull off something that others, like Meta, haven’t been able to.
In the future, Sony plans to make the main network available to everyone, so we can all access the apps built on top of Soneium. They’re even thinking about adding some DeFi (that’s decentralized finance) features, which could be a big deal for crypto-based transactions in the metaverse and for in-game purchases. Imagine buying new skins or items with crypto! Plus, Sony’s PlayStation Network is probably going to benefit a lot from this, especially since they’re already expanding the PS VR2 to work with Windows—super cool, right?
Soneium will be built on something called the Optimism Foundation’s OP Stack, which is a “zero-knowledge” platform that helps developers create their own networks connected to a “superchain.” If that sounds complicated, don’t worry—it basically means it’s going to be really powerful and flexible.
Who’s Behind This?
The brains behind Soneium include Sota Watanabe, the CEO of Startale Labs and director of Sony Block Solutions Labs. He’s also the cofounder of Astar Network, which is another blockchain project. Astar Network has its own cool tech called Astar zkEVM, which will now be part of Soneium too. This means users and developers can move all their stuff to Soneium easily.
