While Still Trying to Add DeAndre Hopkins to Their Roster, New England Patriots Enter a New Realm of Possibilities

Video games have always been an integral part of sports culture. From the early days of Madden, NCAA Football, and many others, the football world has always been involved with the gaming world. But just days after Josh Allen was named the cover athlete for the latest edition of Madden, the New England Patriots are also announcing their ventures into the gaming world with their latest collaboration with one of the biggest games in the world.

The Patriots franchise has already had a busy schedule. They just wrapped up their mandatory minicamp, while also arranging workouts with their next star prospect, Deandre Hopkins. The team has been among the leaders in their efforts to try and sign the WR. And after conducting workouts with him, the Patriots and Coach Belichick will surely be vying to sign Hopkins. With the busy offseason in full flow for the Patriots, the team has decided to step up and enter the virtual world of the video game industry. 

New England Patriots announce special collab in the gaming world

Robert Kraft’s Patriots are one of the largest franchises in the NFL and in all of professional sports as well. In fact, the team currently stands as the 3rd largest franchise, valued at nearly $5.9 Billion. With their massive fanbase backing the team’s every move, the Patriots have announced their ventures with the gaming giant, Epic Games, as the team makes its way into the magical world of Fortnite. 

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The game will feature a Patriots-inspired team map, alongside the already available team jerseys from the in-game store. The move isn’t the NFL and its counterparts’ first collaboration with Fortnite. The NFL and Fortnite first teamed up in 2018 to introduce NFL-themed skins into the game, as a move to create greater engagement between both fanbases. With their brand new collaboration, the Patriots add to the list of collaborations that the NFL and Fortnite have already done in the past. But while the team might be interested in its off-field ventures, its eyes remain firm on its offseason campaign. 

Patriots still eyeing Deandre Hopkins

The Patriots are the latest team to hold a workout with 5x Pro Bowler Deandre Hopkins. In the hotly contested free agent market, Hopkins remains the top target for nearly every team trying to work their way to championship contention. For the Patriots, they really could use the skillset that a player like Hopkins would bring to the table for the team. 

As per reports, the final decision on Hopkins will come down to Coach Belichick. The HOF-bound coach even held a 1 on 1 interview with the WR after his workout to gauge his possible fit within their team. While there is still no offer on the table from the Patriots, Hopkins’ final decision might extend well into the end of July. He continues to test the waters to determine his worth, but given the culture and environment within the gates of Gillette Stadium, the Patriots are sure to remain atop the list of candidates for Deandre Hopkins. 

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