Nike, Inc. has declared the acquisition of RTFKT, a company that combines gaming and fashion by creating virtual sneakers and digital products for use in the metaverse’s virtual worlds.
Benoit Pagotto, one of RTFKT’s co-founders, said: “This is a unique opportunity to build the RTFKT brand and we are excited to benefit from Nike’s foundational strength and expertise to build the communities we love.”
This acquisition paves the way for a new expensive line of Nike sneakers in the metaverse. These showstopper lines of virtual sneakers are for the eyes – not the feet. Users can enjoy their digital purchases through a Snapchat filter since physical products will not be available for sale.
While it may be hard to justify splurging thousands of dollars on shoes you can never wear, many users want to throw their hard-earned money into the virtual world with trendy footwear.
Over $14 million has been spent on the Nike Dunk Genesis Cryptokicks, and each pair costs approximately $10,500 to $12,500.
If those numbers sound unreasonably high, it gets significantly more expensive. The prices can range from $186,000 to $630,000. A single pair of virtual sneakers did go on sale for $186,000, and a sneaker skin called Alien costs $630,000.
Digital fashion is an evolving space, and it’s starting to gain more popularity among users. If users seek more selection of shoe brands, Adidas also released 30,000 ‘Into The Metaverse’ NFTs in collaboration with Bored Ape Yacht Club.