Nike’s .SWOOSH NFTs coming to EA Sports games

EA Sports has partnered with Nike Virtual Studios to bring Nike’s .SWOOSH NFT sneakers and sports gear into upcoming EA Sports games.

The announcement did not specify which games will feature these collectibles, but EA Sports and Nike have said they will share further information in the coming months.

In a press release, general manager of Nike Virtual Studios Ron Faris expressed his enthusiasm for collaborating with EA Sports. He highlighted the foundation of this partnership, which is rooted in mutual dedication to “innovation, creativity, and excellence.”

Faris also said that the partnership will pave the way for the development of remarkable experiences, catering to both the .SWOOSH community and the extensive fanbase of EA Sports.

Senior vice president of brand for EA Sports and Racing Andrea Hopelain echoed the excitement expressed by Faris. She highlighted EA’s commitment to spearheading the future of sports fandom. Hopelain underscored the significance of the renewed partnership with Nike, which brings together “innovation, sport, and culture.”

She explained that the partnership with .SWOOSH would center fan experiences around creativity and self-expression. She said the vision is to create a world where fans can connect, compete and share their passion for sports.

.SWOOSH

2023-06-02 19:36

What’s In The Game? Only time will tell…@EASPORTS x .SWOOSH 🎮⚽️🏈🏆 https://t.co/AXgidKX7rd

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The .SWOOSH platform

Built on the Polygon network, Nike plans to leverage the .SWOOSH platform as a central hub for introducing virtual apparel, such as t-shirts and sneakers, designed for avatars within Web3 games.

By using Web3 technology, Nike aims to provide users with the ability to unlock tangible benefits in the real world, such as exclusive physical apparel or the opportunity to engage in conversations with professional athletes.

The .SWOOSH platform unveiled its inaugural NFT collection last month and sold over 92,000 NFTs successfully.

The launch of “Our Force 1” commenced with an NFT airdrop, followed by selling digital shoe boxes that transform into digital sneakers upon opening.

The OF1 Box sale recently concluded, attracting participation from more than fifty thousand people and generating revenue surpassing $1.9 million.

In February, Nike announced the selection of four virtual shoe concepts proposed by members of the .SWOOSH community to be included in the OF1 release.

Following this, Nike’s design team collaborated with these community members to transform their designs into tangible assets on the blockchain. The fan-created designs are then randomly distributed across both types of boxes.

Initially planned for May 8, the First Access sale of OF1 Box faced setbacks due to technical issues and an influx of site traffic, leading to delays. Acknowledging the need for additional time to provide users with a smooth experience, .SWOOSH postponed the launch and communicated this update via Twitter.

However, the efforts did not result in a completely glitch-free experience. The high volume of site visitors led to frequent crashes during the First Access sale, which in turn caused delays in the minting process. Consequently, due to these technical challenges, Nike extended the First Access sale until May 16.

Nike has announced that the OF1 boxes will offer holders additional functionalities and benefits in the near future. These advantages include access to exclusive physical merchandise and unique experiences reserved for box owners.