During the recent EVO 2024 fighting game tournament, BANDAI NAMCO, the renowned developer behind the Tekken series, unveiled an unexpected partnership with Nike, the iconic sportswear brand. This collaboration introduces Nike’s sneakers as exclusive in-game items for characters in Tekken 8, marking a unique crossover between gaming and fashion.
The announcement, presented by Tekken Project Director Katsuhiro Harada, Tekken 8 Game Director Kohei Ikeda, and Producer Michael Murray, took attendees by surprise at EVO. The collaboration focuses on two distinct colorways of Nike Air Formposite One sneakers: one inspired by Jin Kazama's signature colors and another featuring the darker purple associated with Kazuya Mishima, the game’s antagonist.
Fans can anticipate purchasing these virtual sneakers as in-game items later this year, allowing players to customize their characters with real-world Nike footwear within the Tekken universe. Additionally, Nike offered a limited-edition real-world drop of these sneakers exclusively through the Nike app during EVO, available only to attendees at the tournament, thanks to geolocation technology integrated into the app.
Tekken 8, released in 2024, has already garnered attention with its new Tekken World Tour and participation in major esports events like the Esports World Cup. Similarly, Nike continues to expand its footprint in gaming and esports, following previous collaborations such as the custom Lebron Nxxt Gen sneaker with FaZe Clan in 2023.
As gaming and fashion intersect in this innovative partnership, both BANDAI NAMCO and Nike are poised to captivate fans with this unique fusion of digital and physical worlds. Stay tuned for more updates on Tekken 8 and the availability of these exclusive Nike sneakers in-game.