News: This Atari 3D Sneaker NFT Auction Is Using Snapchat to Let You Try Before You Buy on the Blockchain

When you're talking about collectibles, in 2021 it's heresy not to include the world of sneakerheads. Nowadays, a single, limited batch of newly designed sneakers from Nike can quickly sell out and then go on to be resold for many thousands more than they were purchased for at launch.

Predictably, the sneakerhead world is now converging with the hot new world of NFT (non-fungible tokens) auctions. One of the most recent and prominent auctions comes in the form of a concept Atari sneaker that looks like something out of a retro science fiction film.

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The team behind the designs is a group created in 2020 called RTFKT. The crew describes itself as using "the latest in game engines, NFT, blockchain authentication and augmented reality, combined with manufacturing expertise to create one-of-a-kind sneakers and digital artifacts."

What makes this NFT drop stand out from the crowd is its augmented reality component. Instead of letting you simply imagine what wearing these concept sneakers would look like, RTFKT has harnessed the power of Snapchat to let you virtually try on a wide range of shoe designs in your own home.

Once you scan the RTFKT Snapcode (bottom of this page) or click this link, your smartphone will open Snapchat and present you with the ability to virtually try on eight of the Atari sneaker designs.

The 3D models of the concept sneakers are currently up for NFT auction, with prices already reaching the thousands for a single model.

This is just the latest example of how important AR will be to NFT items that are unique in terms of blockchain verification, but could also benefit from offering visual interactions that allow the artists and owners to display and enjoy these NFT items beyond the 2D screens and canvases we've been trapped in for so long.