First, it was comic books, then cosplay, now the ways fans engage with their favorite characters have changed entirely. Thanks to the rise of the metaverse and its virtual environments, fans have an easier time visiting places in books or films, as well as virtually dressing up as their favorite characters. For DC fans, there’s a new line of DC merchandise to buy in the form of DC Hybrid Trading Cards on the Hro platform.
Using the Hro app, companies Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Cartamundi Group have partnered to offer an exclusive experience that combines both the real and virtual worlds. On the Hro app, DC Fans collect and trade DC-based hybrid NFT trading cards. These cards feature famous DC Superheroes and Super-villains, including exclusive characters from the new Warner Bros. Pictures’ film “the Batman.” This platform offers a new virtual community for DC fans to join.
The partnership between the companies provides exciting new opportunities, “Cartamundi is excited to partner with Warner Bros. Consumer Products to bring a new breakthrough hybrid physical and digital fan engagement platform and solution, Hro, to market,” the CEO of Cartamundi Group, Stefaan Merckx stated. “As a company, we’re committed to bringing our partners and fans global unprecedented experiences and innovative solutions.” Unlike other NFT platforms, Hro offers a unique combination of both the digital NFT trading cards and a physical card for fans upon purchase. The NFTs offered are minted on Immutable X an Ethereum-based carbon-neutral Layer2 blockchain platform. This allows fans to buy responsibly, knowing their purchase is more environmentally friendly.
The physical trading cards and their corresponding NFTs will be launched this March. Individuals can purchase the cards in-store, getting a unique QR code that links to the NFT counterpart. Both companies have promised to release new and limited-edition content throughout 2022.”Trading cards have been a favorite of fans for decades. Combining that enthusiasm for collecting with a custom NFT is just brilliant, and this program brings the DC brand to fans in a way that’s never been done before,” explained Pam Lifford, President of Warner Media Global Brand and Experiences. “This platform will provide fans a whole new way to engage with their favorite characters from across the DC Multiverse and even expand their ability to interact with other collectors.”
The Hro platform is designed to be more than just an NFT platform. Once connected, the app offers a fan community, where fans can build up a collection of rare DC movie memorabilia or art, compete in challenges and on leaderboards, as well as get exclusive rewards not found anywhere else. The platform also offers a 24/7 open marketplace for users to buy, sell, or trade NFT cards to complete collections. According to Ann Viane, CMO of Cartamundi Group: “Hro gives DC Fans, crypto enthusiasts, and trading card collectors a first-of-its-kind opportunity to step into a deeper fan experience and enter their gateway to a new era. We’re honoring the best of DC by featuring iconic heroes, villains, locations, gadgets, and moments fans know and love.” To purchase these cards, fans can shop on the U.S. and U.K. online Amazon stores, or go to the Hro app. The packs begin at $4.99.
It will be no surprise if other media companies (like Disney or Paramount) develop their own line of NFT products. The launch of the Hro platform and its NFT products reveal just how much demand the superhero-loving demographic has for engaging with its favorite characters in new ways.
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