Casio Dropping Free NFTs to ‘Co-Create’ Virtual G-Shock Watches

Japanese electronics big Casio is increasing its sporty G-Shock watch model into the metaverse with the launch of Digital G-Shock, a blockchain-based “neighborhood co-creation” program in partnership with Polygon Labs. 

Step one on the roadmap is a set of 15,000 free-to-mint G-Shock Creator Move NFTs, which afford holders entry to this system’s newly unveiled Discord channel. There they’ll enter a co-creation competitors to create a variant design for the passes. The winner will probably be determined by neighborhood vote.

Casio will start rolling out the NFTs this month by way of its official web site, with an preliminary declare window obtainable for customers who’ve a Casio ID from September 23-26, and a public mint to observe from September 26-29. The NFTs will probably be minted on Polygon, an Ethereum scaling community.

“In recent times, with the unfold of the decentralized web often known as Web3, demand for experiences in digital areas has elevated. We now have launched this initiative to additional broaden the G-Shock model by establishing factors of contact with beforehand unreachable segments of the inhabitants,” stated Takahashi Oh, senior normal supervisor of Casio’s timepiece division, in an announcement.

Oh advised Decrypt that Casio hopes to introduce its G-Shock watch model—which the corporate says has shipped greater than 100 million units since its 1983 debut—to the metaverse and interactive on-line worlds. The NFT-driven initiative is designed to assist the neighborhood develop these wearable equipment alongside the corporate.

“The co-creation of the Digital G-Shock Undertaking goals to extend the presence of the G-Shock model within the digital and Web3 worlds,” stated Oh, “and to foster a tradition of carrying watches within the digital world.”

“For instance, in a metaverse linked to the NFT, we wish to understand a world the place many avatars put on wristwatches and G-Shocks, similar to in the true world,” he continued. “With a view to understand this world, we wish to domesticate digital followers by way of the co-creation challenge and improve the variety of associates who will work collectively to create the long run that Digital G-Shock is aiming for.”

Web3 loyalty applications that includes components of co-creation have additionally not too long ago been employed by manufacturers akin to Lacoste, whereas Tommy Hilfiger ran an AI design competitors in partnership with DressX throughout March’s Metaverse Trend Week. Polygon particularly has attracted manufacturers like Adidas, Nike, and Starbucks to construct on its community.