Fortnite has partnered with apparel giant Nike and presents “Airphoria”

Fortnite has partnered with apparel giant Nike and its—Swoosh Web3 platform, which offers digital apparel and accessories sold as NFTs. The alliance does not integrate NFTs into Fortnite, but the link between the companies still involves crypto elements.

Unveiled today, “Airphoria” is a Nike-branded experience within Fortnite’s Creative Mode, letting users go on the “ultimate Nike sneaker hunt” within a Fortnite game world. The experience, which will be live in the game until June 27, can earn players a free in-game “back bling” or avatar accessory styled like a classic pair of Nike Air Max sneakers.

Nike’s official Twitter account shared a teaser for the “ultimate Sneakerhunt” on Fortnite, beginning on June 20. Nike has previously put digital apparel into the massively popular online shooter, but this “Airphoria” event teaser came with a twist: a logo for it. Swoosh NFT platform at the end, alongside Fortnite creator Epic Games’ widely-used Unreal Engine software logo.

Nike and Epic Games have yet to provide details regarding the collaboration, which looks to involve the apparel giant’s Air Max shoe brand. However, the teaser suggests that Nike’s NFT platform will tie into Fortnite and perhaps the broader Unreal Engine ecosystem.

Are you ready to experience Airphoria? Find the never-before-seen #AirMax world in @FortniteGame, and join in the Ultimate Sneakerhunt before it disappears into thin air on 6.27 👟 🌏 pic.twitter.com/I0bMiIGWFW

— Nike (@Nike) June 20, 2023

Nike’s collaboration with Fortnite doesn’t bring NFTs into the game, but links. Swoosh and Epic Games account still bridge the gap between the “Web2” online battle-royale shooter and Nike’s NFT-driven platform.

If anything, the collaboration suggests Nike use. Swoosh as a broader platform for gaming and metaverse digital items, even if they’re not tokenized and tradable. But Nike’s plans there remain unclear—and even if so, Swoosh is built around NFT-based user IDs.