2021: The Year of NFTs
2021 was a pivotal year for NFTs and blockchain gaming. The concept of true digital ownership was no longer theoretical—it was becoming mainstream. Enjin, a blockchain gaming platform, offered developers the infrastructure to create, mint, and manage NFTs that could exist across multiple games and platforms. But integrating blockchain technology into Unreal Engine wasn't straightforward.
The EnjAPIQuery Plugin was built to solve that problem. It provided a direct connection to Enjin's GraphQL API, supporting Mainnet, Jumpnet (a gas-free network), and Kovan Testnet. Developers could now integrate NFT functionality into their Unreal Engine projects without writing low-level blockchain code.
Division of Labor: Blueprints and Developer Experience
My collaborator and I split the work based on our strengths. He handled the C++ side—integrating Enjin's API, managing authentication, and ensuring the backend was solid. My role was to make the plugin developer-friendly. That meant:
- Blueprint design: Creating intuitive nodes that developers could use without diving into code
- Understanding developer needs: Identifying which features game developers actually needed versus what was technically possible
- Function testing: Rigorously testing each feature to ensure reliability and ease of use
- UI development: Building example interfaces for QR code wallet linking, NFT management, and transaction feedback
The goal was accessibility. Not every game developer is a blockchain expert, and they shouldn't need to be. The plugin had to abstract complexity while still giving developers full control over NFT creation, minting, transfers, and metadata access.
Core Features: From Wallet Linking to NFT Management
The EnjAPIQuery Plugin supported a wide range of blockchain interactions, all accessible through Blueprints:
- Wallet linking with QR codes: Players could connect their Enjin wallets by scanning a QR code, making onboarding seamless
- NFT creation and minting: Developers could define new NFTs and mint them directly from within their game
- Send and receive NFTs: Players could trade items, send gifts, or transfer ownership between accounts
- Access NFT metadata: Retrieve stored data associated with each NFT, enabling dynamic in-game behaviors
- ENJ transfers: Send Enjin Coin (ENJ) transactions for in-game economies or rewards
- Cross-platform support: NFTs created with the plugin worked across PC and mobile
- Jumpnet integration: Leverage gas-free transactions for faster, cheaper operations
Each feature was built with real-world use cases in mind. Whether developers wanted to create a simple collectible system or a full economy with tradable items, the plugin provided the flexibility to do so.
True Item Ownership: Redefining In-Game Economies
One of the most compelling aspects of blockchain gaming is true item ownership. In traditional games, items exist only within the game's ecosystem. If the game shuts down, those items disappear. With NFTs, players own their items as blockchain assets. They can sell them, trade them, or even use them in other games that support the same NFT standard.
The EnjAPIQuery Plugin enabled this vision. A sword minted in one Unreal Engine game could theoretically be imported into another, as long as both games supported the Enjin ecosystem. This opened up possibilities for interconnected game worlds, cross-game economies, and player-driven marketplaces.
Testing, Iteration, and Developer Feedback
Creating a plugin for other developers meant rigorous testing. We couldn't afford to release something that was technically impressive but impractical to use. I worked closely with my collaborator to test each function, identify edge cases, and refine the Blueprint interface based on feedback.
The UI components were equally important. We provided example implementations showing how to display wallet balances, visualize NFT inventories, and handle transaction confirmations. These weren't just tech demos—they were practical templates that developers could adapt for their own projects.
The EnjAPIQuery Plugin was about more than just integrating blockchain into Unreal Engine—it was about making that integration practical, accessible, and developer-friendly. In the year of the NFT boom, we built a tool that helped game developers join the blockchain gaming revolution without needing a PhD in cryptography.