Razer Partners with Tools for Humanity to Combat Bots in Gaming

Gaming technology firm Razer has partnered with Sam Altman’s crypto venture, Tools for Humanity, to introduce ID verification in video games. This collaboration aims to prevent unauthorized bots from disrupting the gaming experience. The solution, named Razer ID Verified by World ID, will allow gamers to verify their human identity, ensuring that games opting into the program can check this status.

Razer ID Verification will be integrated into the Razer account, with the first implementation planned for the upcoming Immutable battler game Tokyo Beast. This game will feature pooled NFTs and utilize the Immutable zkEVM blockchain. The verification process involves using an existing Razer ID account to access the World App, where users can create a World ID account and verify their humanity through methods such as an IRL shiny Orb or an NFC-enabled passport. This process is similar to Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures in the crypto world, ensuring data safety through Zero-Knowledge (ZK) proofs, which verify information without revealing it.

Tools for Humanity, the for-profit company behind the World Network, emphasizes that the new feature is designed to work even with VPNs enabled, addressing concerns about digital privacy. Razer’s Chief Corporate Officer, Wei-Pin Choo, highlighted that gamers frequently encounter unauthorized bots, which can negatively impact the competitive gaming experience. A survey conducted by World found that a significant majority of gamers feel that bots are detrimental to gameplay.

World Network, previously known as Worldcoin, is a blockchain designed to verify human identities. It has faced controversy over biometric data privacy concerns and allegations of exploiting users in developing countries. Regulators in various regions have taken issue with World’s practices, leading to temporary shutdowns in some countries. Despite these challenges, the partnership between Razer and Tools for Humanity represents a step towards addressing the issue of bots in video games, even if it is an experimental solution.