• by Colin Kirkland , December 14, 2022

Owning an Aston Martin may now be more feasible for the average Joe -- sort of.

The luxury car company, often associated with James Bond films, has announced the launch of new non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that allow fans to collect digital cars in a virtual garage and then race them in a next-generation mobile racing game called “Infinite Drive.” 

The artistry and history of the Aston Martin brand has been recreated into digital form through 3D modeling and art to exactly mirror its real-world counterpart, the company says.

Three different cars have been produced in this digital format, including the 1980 Vantage V8 seen in the Bond film "The Living Daylights."

The limited-edition digital Aston Martin collectibles -- which the brand is referring to as “digital diecasts” to reference classic model cars -- were created by The Tiny Digital Factory, a developer and publisher of racing and motorsport games, most notably the Test Drive Unlimited series.

Aston Martin has granted The Tiny Digital Factory a worldwide license to use the shape, trade dress, and trademarks of several Aston Martin vehicles for inclusion in its metaverse-based game Infinite Drive, a spokesperson from Aston Martin said in a statement. 

Through Aston Martin’s official partnership with Infinite Drive, which is available on iOS and Android, owners of the new collectibles have the opportunity to experience how their cars feel and sound on officially licensed tracks -- including Fuji Speedway and the Nurburgring -- with accurate speed and handling specs, and an authentic V8 sound.

“Unlike collectible models or vintage cars, which are best kept in mint condition to preserve value, these digital collectible cars are designed to be experienced,” said Stéphane Baudet, founder and CEO at The Tiny Digital Factory.

Infinite Drive launched in May 2022 in a closed Alpha phase with officially licensed cars and tracks, and will soon feature official eSports events and fan clubs, with a free-to-play launch planned for early 2023. 

Future developments to the game will include a host of additional licensed Aston Martin models and eventually, partnerships that enable digital diecast cars to be driven within other leading racing games. 

Three thousand unique “digital diecast” cars will be available for fans to buy, own and race on December 18th.