Deadfellaz NFT Owners Can Now Use Their Avatars in Twitch Streams

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

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

It's part of the broader "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 like Pudgy Penguins and Cool Cats to develop similar functionality.

Gamers can present themselves as their zombified cartoon alter ego when showcasing games on Twitch, for example, and have it match their head and move movements as they're playing. Or they can hop into their next Zoom call and put a fun twist on the usual work meeting.

Pseudonymous Deadfellaz and DFZ Labs co-founders Betty and Psych told Decrypt in a statement that 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 the societal or physical bounds they experience in their day-to-day lives."

The goal, they say, is to allow collectors to take immersive storytelling to an entirely 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 worth of trading volume to date, per CryptoSlam.

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

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

"Rather than selling more to our community, we want to continue adding value to the digital identity they hold so near and dear to their hearts," they told Decrypt. "This is a huge moment for us and The Horde, and an extremely exciting entry to the streaming space. Gamers, that means you, too!"