Deadfellaz NFT owners can now use their avatars in Twitch Streams

So much for static JPEGs – Ethereum NFT project Deadfellaz is taking the default profile picture (PFP) to the next level, announcing today the launch of animated avatars that holders can use to introduce themselves on Twitch and YouTube streams, as well as video calls.

The new “Streamingfellaz” expansion gives Deadfellaz NFT collectors, better known as “The Horde”, the ability to use their existing JPEGs as a video avatar, similar to virtual hosts such as Gawr Gura, Mori Calliope, Ironmouse and CodeMiko.

It’s part of the wider “vtuber” (virtual YouTuber) trend of animated avatars representing the real people behind the streams. The Deadfellaz extension is optimized for use on Twitch, YouTube, Google Meet and Zoom.

You can see an example of the functionality in the embedded tweet above, as some users have been testing it out for months. The feature was developed with Hologram Labs, which is also working with NFT projects such as Pudgy Penguins and Cool Cats to develop similar functionality.

Gamers can present themselves as their zombified cartoon alter ego when showing off gameplay on Twitch, for example, and have it match their head and moving gestures as they play. Or they can jump into their next Zoom call and put a fun twist on the regular work meeting.

Pseudonymous Deadfellaz and DFZ Labs co-founders Betty and Psych told Decrypt in a statement saying they’ve been developing the feature for about a year, and will “continue to provide resources and creative extensions to our collectors that allow them to express themselves as their avatar anywhere on the internet, free of social or physical boundaries. They experience in their daily lives.”

The goal, they say, is to let collectors take immersive storytelling to a whole new level through user-generated content and virtual worlds.

Launched in August 2021, Deadfellaz is a collection of 10,000 zombie-themed NFTs minted on the Ethereum blockchain. The Deadfellaz collection has generated about $102 million in trading volume to date, per CryptoSlam.

Last year, Deadfellaz signed an exclusive deal with United Talent Agency which is working with the team to expand into other areas including brand partnerships, merchandising, games and live events. Deadfellaz has since launched collaborations with brands such as Wrangler and DraftKings.

The co-founders described today’s launch as a way to add further benefit to existing NFT holders, rather than trying to charge for additional assets or functionality.

“Instead of selling more to our community, we want to continue to add value to the digital identity they hold so near and dear to their hearts,” they said Decrypt. “This is a huge moment for us and The Horde, and an extremely exciting entry into the streaming space. Players, that means you, too!”