Fortnite, the popular video game, has unveiled a collaboration with sportswear giant Nike and its .Swoosh Web3 platform, which offers digital apparel and accessories sold as non-fungible tokens (NFTs). However, the partnership does not introduce NFTs into the Fortnite game world. Despite this, the collaboration still involves crypto elements.
Named “Airphoria,” the Nike-branded experience is accessible within Fortnite’s Creative Mode and allows users to embark on the “ultimate Nike sneakerhunt” in the game. Players can earn a free in-game “back bling” or avatar accessory inspired by Nike Air Max sneakers. Notably, these free items are not tokenized as NFTs, and the collaboration does not include any apparel or accessory NFTs.
While the connection between Fortnite and Nike does not integrate NFTs or digital item trading marketplaces, it is linked to Nike’s .Swoosh NFT platform, built on the Ethereum scaling network Polygon. .Swoosh users can earn special achievements on their NFT-based IDs by connecting their account to an Epic Games account and purchasing non-NFT apparel items in Fortnite.
This collaboration exemplifies Nike’s utilization of .Swoosh as a broader platform for gaming and metaverse digital items, even without tokenization and tradability. The future role of .Swoosh ID NFTs, the BitGo wallet, and potential NFT items tied to the unlocked achievements remains uncertain. Further clarification from Nike and Epic Games representatives is awaited.
