Razer is collaborating on a gaming CAPTCHA to combat AI-powered bots, and of course the first game to use it is the worst Web3 nonsense I've ever seen
To verify your Razer ID, you may need to provide some form of proof to confirm that you are a real person and not a bot. This could involve completing a task or providing specific information to validate your identity. It is a security measure to ensure the authenticity of users on the platform. If you encounter this request, follow the instructions provided to successfully verify your Razer ID. Remember to keep your personal information secure while going through the verification process.
Introduction
One of the most annoying aspects of using the modern Internet is having to convince every other website that I am, in fact, a human, typically by clicking on little squares of traffic lights and bicycles. The irritation has been compounded since I learned that tools like CAPTCHA don't really do much to deter online bots at all, but are in fact "a tracking cookie farm for profit masquerading as a security service."
Razer's Collaboration
So it was with a raised eyebrow that I learned Razer is collaborating with blockchain-based verification system World to create what is essentially a CAPTCHA for games. Confusingly named "Razer ID verified by World ID," it aims to let players confirm their nature as a sentient, organic lifeform in games that support it.
"With AI technologies on the rise, can you be certain your opponent is human?" asks Razer on its website, seemingly neglecting the fact that bots in multiplayer games have been an issue long before the advent of LLMs and advanced machine learning algorithms. "By verifying your Razer ID with Proof of Human, you gain a secure and private way to confirm your human identity, all through the convenience of single sign-on."
World ID and Verification Process
A 2023 study concluded CAPTCHAs are 'a tracking cookie farm for profit masquerading as a security service' that made us spend 819 million hours clicking on traffic lights to generate nearly $1 trillion for Google. Let's not dwell on the deeply dystopian nature of the phrase "Proof of Human" and instead dig into how all this supposedly works.
Razer ID is linked to World ID, part of the "World Network" cryptocurrency initiative, founded in 2019 with the involvement of OpenAI's Sam Altman and formerly known as Worldcoin. The goal of World is allegedly to create a verifiably human online network. World ID is described on the World site as "a secure, permissionless identity protocol" that functions as "a global digital passport for the age of AI."
Creating a World ID can apparently be done in two ways, either submitting ID documents to the World app (such as your passport), or visiting an "Orb." The Orb takes a photo of your face and eyes, using iris biometrics to confirm your identity. Once you've verified your humanness via app or orb, Razer receives "zero knowledge proof" that you are human.
Implementation in Games
This proof can then be used to verify your identity in any game that supports it. Game developers can leverage on this framework to implement features such as anti-botting, anti-bullying, and user authentication, according to Razer's website.
The example game cited by Razer is "Tokyo Beast," described as "one of the world's largest new blockchain games." However, details about the game are sparse on the website, focusing more on potential winnings without explaining the gameplay.
There's no question that bots are a problem in multiplayer gaming, and AI technology could exacerbate the issue. However, the idea of gaming companies adopting a blockchain-based verification system on a large scale remains questionable, especially based on the example of Tokyo Beast.