In a recent update, Nike's .Swoosh platform announced plans to deepen its presence in the video game space through the introduction of "Nike In-Game Wearables." The company's stance on the involvement of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) in this expansion remains uncertain, with an emphasis on user enjoyment and collecting.

According to a blog post, Nike's .Swoosh believes that the value of virtual products should be centered around the enjoyment users derive from expressing themselves or gaining access to physical items. The company stated, "It's more about the joy of collecting—of being a true fan—not just a transaction."

The upcoming year will witness the launch of In-Game Wearables, a new line of virtual products that sets itself apart from digital collectibles like OF1. Users will have the ability to purchase and wear these collections directly within their preferred video games.

A notable feature is the absence of a requirement for crypto wallets for collectors of these virtual wearables. Nike's .Swoosh assures that gamers need only link their game accounts to access these in-game wearables. However, clarity is lacking regarding whether these future wearables will take the form of NFTs or adopt a different model.

Having entered the blockchain space through its RTFKT acquisition and .Swoosh platform, Nike has approached the phrasing of its digital items cautiously. Despite previous endeavors such as digital sneaker NFTs on Polygon and hints of collaborations with EA Sports and Fortnite in 2023, Nike has not consistently embraced blockchain technology.

In a recent blog post, Nike explicitly draws a distinction between "digital collectibles" or NFTs and "in-game wearables," indicating potential differences. While the Fortnite collaboration turned out to be a digital collectibles push without blockchain involvement, the nature of the upcoming in-game wearables remains uncertain.

The post also revealed that owners of Nike digital collectibles (NFTs) will have the option to transfer these items to personal crypto wallets later this year. This move facilitates NFT collectors in trading their Nike NFTs on marketplaces that guarantee royalties to creators, including Nike and its affiliated artists.

Despite this clarification on NFT transfers, Nike expressed hesitancy about creating its own NFT marketplace. The company conveyed that such a venture could distract from its primary focus on product creation and storytelling, signaling no immediate or future plans to establish an internal NFT marketplace.

With Nike yet to respond to requests for clarification, the extent of NFT involvement in its upcoming video game integrations remains unknown, leaving gamers and collectors eagerly awaiting further details from the sports apparel giant.