Nike’s .Swoosh, the apparel giant’s Web3 community platform, has recently partnered with popular video game Fortnite to create a unique virtual experience. The collaboration aims to tap into Fortnite’s massive user base, with over 240 million individuals logging into the game in the past month alone.
The partnership has resulted in the launch of “Airphoria,” a Nike-branded experience within Fortnite’s Creative Mode, allowing users to go on the “Ultimate Nike Superhunt” within the game world. This experience, available exclusively within Fortnite until June 27, lets players immerse themselves in a digital environment where they can earn coveted digital sneakers.
To enrich the gaming experience, players are encouraged to link their Epic Games and .Swoosh accounts. By doing so, they gain priority access to a forthcoming .Swoosh Air Max virtual collection. The account linkage facilitates the seamless integration of virtual goods, including Fortnite skins and Nike achievements, across different platforms.
The collaboration does not intend to incorporate Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). While .Swoosh suggested tokenizing digital Fortnite items, Epic Games has decided to maintain its traditional “walled garden” approach for this collaboration. The items earned by players are not tokenized as NFTs, and neither the apparel nor accessory NFTs are added to the collaboration.
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Any player who spends a minimum of 10 minutes exploring the Airphoria island will receive the Air Max 1 ’86 Back Bling, a digital sneaker accessory. This exclusive reward can be claimed as an “achievement” through Nike’s .Swoosh platform. It’s noteworthy that these achievements are non-transferable and do not hold any monetary value.
In addition to Airphoria, Nike has introduced several other digital items in partnership with Fortnite, such as the Airie and Maxxed Out Max outfits, which players can acquire from the Fortnite Item Shop.
Nike’s .Swoosh platform relies on BitGo, a reputable crypto custody firm, as its third-party wallet provider. This partnership ensures secure storage and management of digital assets associated with the .Swoosh platform, including digital sneakers and other collectibles.
The collaboration between Nike’s .Swoosh and Fortnite has created an extraordinary virtual experience for gamers and sneaker enthusiasts alike. As Nike continues to expand its presence in the digital realm, it demonstrates a forward-thinking approach that bridges the worlds of fashion, gaming, and technology.
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