NFTs have become increasingly popular in the sports world, with major sports leagues such as the NFL and NBA having begun releasing unique digital collectibles for fans to collect and trade over the past year.
Now, even as crypto takes a hit and the future of NFTs may seem more uncertain, UFC and fantasy sports company DraftKings will be launching a new iteration of the latter’s “Reignmakers” gamified NFT franchise for UFC fans.
Last month, DraftKings announced its first NFT game, Reignmakers Football, in partnership with the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). The game will work similarly to fantasy football, but players will draft weekly lineups from the Player Card NFTs that they own during the 2022 season.
The new game, Reignmakers UFC, is expected to launch later this year and will similarly enable fans to build NFT collections of UFC fighters and use them in games for the chance to win prizes. Fans will soon be able to start collecting the initial fighter NFTs ahead of the launch via upcoming auctions and drops on DraftKings Marketplace based around UFC’s summer events schedule.
Players will have the opportunity to earn rewards including entries into daily fantasy contests for cash, custom merch, and more. The game will also include familiar mechanics such as missions, level-ups, and leaderboards.
“UFC has been a tremendous collaborator over the years, and we are delighted for the organization to represent our latest installment within DraftKings’ burgeoning Reignmakers gamified digital collectibles franchise,” said Beth Beiriger, SVP of Product Operations for DraftKings Marketplace, in a statement. “Fight fans are already among the most engaged audiences, and we see these immersive technologies as bolstering the unique sports entertainment ecosystem we provide for consumers while also rewarding their undeniable passion.”
Tracey Bleczinski, UFC Senior Vice President of Global Consumer Products, added: “Reignmakers UFC will be a unique, innovative opportunity to create fan engagement that combines DraftKings’ expertise in digital sports entertainment with pioneering technology that features hundreds of UFC athletes, including some of the biggest names in the sport.”