In a significant stride towards the widespread acceptance of cryptocurrencies among the gaming community, Nike’s nonfungible token (NFT) platform, .Swoosh, is poised to be seamlessly integrated with EA Sports games. This integration holds the potential to enable the inclusion of Nike’s virtual footwear and apparel within the gaming experience.
According to a statement released by Nike on June 1, the incorporation of their “virtual creations,” which refer to NFTs, into EA Sports games is slated to commence in the upcoming months. However, neither Nike nor Electronic Arts (EA) have disclosed the specific game titles that will feature Nike’s virtual goods.
EA Sports games encompass highly popular titles such as FIFA, which secured the accolade of being the “most popular game” in 2022, along with the Madden NFL series and the NBA Live series, all of which amass a considerable following of gamers. It is anticipated that Nike NFTs will take the form of customizable wearable additions, enabling players to acquire and modify their in-game character avatars.
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Ron Faris, the General Manager of Nike Virtual Studios, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “This collaboration will unlock extraordinary new experiences for our .SWOOSH community and the extensive EA SPORTS fan base.”
Nike initially introduced its .swoosh NFT platform in November 2022, although the release of an NFT collection did not occur until the early months of 2023.
On May 15, .Swoosh unveiled its inaugural NFT collection, comprising a series of virtual shoes named “Our Force 1,” a clear homage to Nike’s renowned line of sneakers, the Air Force One. As of the time of this publication, data from Polygonscan indicates that over 97,000 of these sneaker NFTs have been successfully sold, reaching nearly 53,000 unique addresses.
In December 2021, Nike ventured into the Metaverse by acquiring RTFKT, a brand specializing in virtual sneakers and collectibles. Additionally, Nike introduced Nikeland, a virtual world of its own.
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Although .Swoosh, RTFKT, and Nikeland employ comparable tools and technologies, it’s important to note that these three initiatives are distinct projects within the Nike company. Each project operates independently, contributing to Nike’s presence and activities in the virtual space.
