Andrew Rizzo As the world’s largest athletic company, it’s no surprise that Nike continues to lead the way in digital innovation. Over the past few years, the Swoosh has experimented with the metaverse through .Swoosh, virtual collaborations like Travis Scott’s Fortnite concerts and in-game sneakers, and even a now-defunct venture into NFTs via RTFKT. The brand’s latest foray into the digital space arrives through a collaboration with EA Sports FC, centered on special editions of the Phantom 6 soccer boot. The virtual cleats will be earnable in the game soon — and unlike most digital drops, this one also comes with a real-world release.
Sneaker brands inserting their products into sports video games is nothing new, but it’s far less common to see a footwear company and a gaming giant co-create collaborative editions. Nike and EA Sports have done just that, offering the Phantom 6 in both its laceless low-top and high-top format.
The boots feature bold, multi-colored Tuned Gripknit uppers that enhance striking precision, paired with large lateral Swoosh logos rendered with pixelated textures. Triangular accents across the outsoles and an iridescent finish, nodding directly to classic gaming aesthetics.
The physical boots release September 29th via nike.com and select retailers, while the digital boots will be earnable in EA Sports FC 26 shortly. See detailed images below if you’re interested.
