ITV Studios takes Thunderbirds into The Sandbox metaverse

ITV Studios has teamed up with Reality+ to launch the Tracy Island Sandbox Experience, taking fans of the iconic Thunderbirds TV show further into the metaverse – F.A.B.!

The Tracy Island Sandbox Metaverse Experience has launched as part of Thunderbirds: International Rescue Club, the Web3 reimagining of the classic television show’s unique style by ITV Studios and Reality+.

Lucie Stoffers, Head of Brand & Licensing Global Entertainment, ITV Studios:

“We are super excited to work with Reality+ and The Sandbox team to take the next step in our partnership and bring Thunderbirds to The Sandbox. This will allow Thunderbirds fans from around the world to discover Tracy Island and complete new Rescue Missions, as well as get access to a bespoke NFT collection.”

The special, time-limited Tracy Island event in The Sandbox Metaverse will run for two weeks, having launched on March 13th, and give fans the opportunity to join forces with their favourite Thunderbirds characters to take on quests in and around the famous top secret International Rescue HQ.

The Tracy Island Sandbox Experience consists of 15 quests and mini-games with a plethora of Easter eggs and information about the original ITV 1960s series. Leveraging the benefits of Web3, fans can also browse the various digital collectables, including a huge gallery takeover in the Thunderbird 2 hangar, and a special voxel exhibition curated by Lady Penelope herself.

As part of the game’s play-to-earn mechanic players will have the chance to win a slice of The Sandbox’s monthly prize pool fund (1,150,000 SAND, The Sandbox Experience currency, equivalent to £500,000), plus mystery gifts.

Part virtual real estate, part amusement park, The Sandbox fully embraces the idea of the metaverse as a continuous shared digital space, in which players and brands can build, own, and monetise their experiences on the Ethereum blockchain.

Thunderbirds is an iconic and much-loved British TV show, commissioned by ATV Network by Lord Lew Grade for ITV, first broadcast in 1965, following the exploits of the Tracy family and their International Rescue service. The show was created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and is famous for its innovative use of marionette puppetry, or ‘Supermarionation’. Reality+ helps worldwide brands transition to Web3 with bespoke product, community and development strategies, backed by an award-winning technology platform.

ITV Studios initially partnered with Reality+ in September to launch the first interaction of Thunderbirds: International Rescue Club, a premium, utility-focused Web3 experience that enabled fans to buy and trade officially licensed NFT digital artworks based on the classic TV show.

Owners of the NFT artworks were granted access to their own unique avatar for use in The Sandbox and now as part of the Tracy Island Sandbox Experience, which launches after a special month-long F.A.B.RUARY celebration of everything Thunderbirds, including new digital artworks reimagining iconic Thunderbirds characters vehicles.

The Thunderbirds: International Rescue Club community also became real life heroes when they generated over £15,000 to support the Dobrich Dog Rescue, as part of a real life rescue mission.

Reality+ Co-Founder Tony Pearce:

“It’s a tremendous honour to be working with ITV Studios, not only to help them push the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of Web3 entertainment, but for the opportunity to take such an iconic TV show on an exciting new journey with its fans. We have already achieved so much with Thunderbirds: International Rescue Club, and with fantastic partners like The Sandbox there’s much more to come.”

Going forward, ITV Studios and Reality+ will continue to develop and launch new features as part of the Thunderbirds: International Rescue Club, including community co-creation projects and interoperability of Thunderbirds NFTs with other partners.

Sustainability is central to the Thunderbirds: International Rescue Club philosophy, with The Sandbox partnered with Offsetra and Nori on carbon offsetting, plus WeForest to help reforestation efforts across the globe.

Thunderbirds: International Rescue Club  |  The Sandbox Metaverse