EA Sports will soon integrate Nike's virtual creations

Nike Virtual Studios, the Web3 arm of Nike, has joined forces with game publisher EA Sports to create virtual experiences featuring the sportswear giant's .SWOOSH NFTs. 

The collab will bring together two of the biggest names in sports and entertainment, allowing the .SWOOSH community and EA Sports fans to "express their personal style through play." This includes "immersive experiences" and "new levels of customization within the EA Sports ecosystem." Select .SWOOSH NFTs, which include virtual footwear and apparel, will be featured in certain EA Sports games. 

While EA Sports have refrained from using the word NFT, the company's CEO Andrew Wilson was cited in November 2021 saying NFTs will be "part of the future games industry." The recent collab with .SWOOSH seems to confirm the company's open stance on NFTs. 

"All of us at EA Sports are focused on leading the next evolution in sports fandom, and this new collaboration with our longtime partners at Nike sits directly at the intersection of innovation, sport, and culture," said Andrea Hopelain, Brand SVP of EA Sports & Racing. "Working with .SWOOSH, we'll bring creativity and self-expression to the forefront for fans as they connect, compete, and share their love for sports."

Nike has been one of the most active brands in the NFT space following its acquisition of the popular NFT project RTFKT in December 2021. The .SWOOSH platform, Nike's Web3 marketplace, launched its first NFT sneaker collection last week, which surpassed $1 million in sales. With the latest partnership, Nike will be able to offer its virtual creations to the huge fan base of EA Sports. 

"Nike and EA Sports share a commitment to innovation, creativity, and excellence, and we are thrilled to partner with them," said Ron Faris, GM of Nike Virtual Studios. "This partnership will allow us to unlock some incredible new experiences for our .SWOOSH community and the massive EA Sports fan base."

Both companies will unveil more details on the integration of the .SWOOSH creations into EA Sports titles in the coming months.