Nike is expanding its presence in the non-fungible token (NFT) space by integrating its .Swoosh platform with EA Sports games, aiming to bring virtual Nike footwear and apparel into the gaming experience.
In an announcement on June 1, Nike revealed that its “virtual creations” (NFTs) will soon be featured in various EA Sports games. However, specific titles incorporating Nike’s virtual goods have not been disclosed by either Nike or Electronic Arts (EA).
And that does it for the launch of the OF1 Collection. 🎉
Thank you to all of the 50K+ .SWOOSH members who participated.
We'll be back tomorrow with a recap of all things OF1.
Oh, and we have a special announcement coming at 8am PDT. 👀
Until tomorrow .SWOOSH fam 🫡
— .SWOOSH (@dotSWOOSH) June 1, 2023
The EA Sports lineup, including popular titles like FIFA, Madden NFL, and NBA Live with millions of players, is expected to showcase Nike NFTs in the form of customizable wearable add-ons. This will enable players to purchase and personalize their in-game avatars.
Ron Faris, the general manager of Nike Virtual Studios, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, “This partnership will allow us to unlock some incredible new experiences for our .SWOOSH community and the massive EA SPORTS fan base.”
EA SPORTS 🤝 @dotSWOOSHhttps://t.co/hNxxdaMgRL pic.twitter.com/NH8vp0fWoQ
— EA SPORTS (@EASPORTS) June 1, 2023
Nike initially introduced its .swoosh NFT platform in November 2022 but launched its first non-fungible token collection, Our Force 1, in early 2023. This collection features virtual shoes inspired by Nike’s iconic Air Force One sneakers. Over 97,000 sneaker NFTs have been sold to nearly 53,000 addresses as of now, according to Polygonscan data.
In December 2021, Nike entered the Metaverse by acquiring RTFKT, a brand specializing in virtual sneakers and collectibles. It also launched Nikeland, a virtual world created by the company.
While .Swoosh shares similar tools and technologies with RTFKT and Nikeland, these projects represent distinct endeavors undertaken by Nike.
