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Casio is bringing its legendary G-SHOCK watch brand to the metaverse through an ambitious new web3 project inside The Sandbox (TSB). Starting September 24, players will get to explore "G-SHOCK City," a digital world filled with games, challenges, and exclusive NFT avatars. The launch marks a bold step for Casio as it combines G-SHOCK's signature toughness with a new kind of virtual experience aimed at gamers, collectors, and web3 fans.
G-SHOCK City Launching September 24 in The Sandbox
Casio America has officially announced the opening of G-SHOCK City in The Sandbox metaverse. This virtual space will feature a mix of action-packed gameplay and deep dives into G-SHOCK's history, offering players the chance to experience the brand in a fully immersive way.
At the heart of G-SHOCK City are two main game quests. The first is a survival race series called the G-SHOCK GRANDPRIX, inspired by the intense durability tests that the real-life watches go through. Players will race through six high-intensity obstacle courses that test their in-game endurance. Those who make it through will earn the title "G-SHOCK."
The second game, called Time Travel - History of G-SHOCK, is an adventure-style quest. Players step into a time machine built into a virtual G-SHOCK monument and explore the brand's journey, from its invention in 1983 to the present. Along the way, players can collect digital items and earn in-game boosts tied to the watch's tough DNA.
Exclusive Avatar NFTs: The G-SHOCK DROID Collection
As part of the campaign, G-SHOCK will bring its first official avatar NFTs, called the G-SHOCK DROID Collection. These avatars are robot-style characters based on 5 of the brand's most iconic models: DW-5600, DW-6900, GA-110, GA-2100, and the oversized GA-V01. Each avatar is built to reflect the rugged, bold designs of the real watches, but with added features that give players boosts within The Sandbox.
The avatars come in 5 rarities: Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, and Legendary, each with different price tags in SAND, the native token of TSB. Prices range from 19 SAND for Common to 399 SAND for Legendary. These NFTs also offer gameplay perks and will give holders a one-time bonus of 150 Ethos Points (EP). In future Seasons of The Sandbox, these avatars can also unlock weekly passive EP bonuses depending on their rarity.
Allowlist and Minting Details
The minting for the G-SHOCK DROID NFT avatars will begin on September 3. However, fans and collectors can register early through an allowlist process that provides 20% off the regular price. This allowlist is open now and will close on September 2 at 10:00 AM UTC. Eligible wallets include owners of The Sandbox Avatars, LAND, and Jurassic World Egg NFTs. If your wallet meets these conditions by the August 29 snapshot, you will be added to the allowlist automatically. Others can register manually through an online form.
Spots on the allowlist are limited and will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis.
Real-World Prizes and In-Game Bonuses
As part of the campaign, Casio will also give away 5x G-SHOCK x nanoblock display tools through a lottery. Winners will be chosen from players who engage with the G-SHOCK DROID collection.
In The Sandbox itself, the DROID avatars come with special in-game abilities. These can help players complete the G-SHOCK GRANDPRIX survival courses more easily. Extra equipment and power-ups will also be available as quest rewards and in gated areas inside G-SHOCK City.
What Is The Sandbox?
The Sandbox is a web3 metaverse platform where players can explore virtual lands, build games, and buy and sell NFTs. Created by Animoca Brands, it has become one of the most popular metaverse platforms, thanks to its partnerships with brands like Atari, Snoop Dogg, and now Casio.
Inside The Sandbox, players use the SAND token to buy digital goods, land plots, and avatars. The platform supports user-generated content, meaning anyone can create their own game world or experience. It also lets you use voxel-style assets to build dynamic experiences that players can monetize or share.
What Makes G-SHOCK Watches Special?
G-SHOCK watches are known around the world for their durability. The idea started with Casio engineer Kikuo Ibe, who wanted to make a watch that could survive almost anything. After over 200 handmade tests, Casio released the first G-SHOCK in 1983. Since then, the brand has become a symbol of toughness.
Every G-SHOCK is built to resist electric shock, gravity, cold, vibration, water, and more. The watches use smart designs like urethane protection and suspended timekeeping modules to keep the inner parts safe from damage. G-SHOCK's motto, "never, never give up," reflects the brand's drive to keep evolving.
Casio's Push into the Digital World
Casio America, founded in 1957, has long been a leader in electronics, from calculators and keyboards to digital watches. With the launch of Virtual G-SHOCK in The Sandbox, Casio is pushing into the digital space. By merging its strong design history with new tech like NFTs and metaverse platforms, Casio is connecting with a new generation of fans.
"Casio America, Inc. proudly announces the next frontier for the legendary G-SHOCK brand with the launch of VIRTUAL G-SHOCK in The Sandbox, a web3 metaverse collaboration bringing the brand's toughness and iconic style into an immersive, gamified world," the company said in a statement.
"Players and collectors alike will be able to immerse themselves in the fusion of G-SHOCK's physical durability and digital innovation, experiencing the brand in a way never before possible."
The campaign fuses G-SHOCK's real-world legacy with digital innovation in a format designed to connect gamers, web3 users, and collectors alike. With survival races, interactive quests, and NFT drops, G-SHOCK City marks a key step in Casio's push into the digital world.
More info can be found at gshock.casio.com/us.
