So far have we come from video games being seen only as nerd hardware. They have provided multi-million dollar careers for the most talented out there, so any snide dork-related remark is best left unsaid. We’ve come so far in fact, that a whole 20 years ago Xbox released its very first console.
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The gamer grandfather has decided to celebrate the milestone with a special pair of kicks. One lucky contestant will win a limited edition pair of Adidas sneakers in collaboration with Xbox. To be eligible all that’s required besides a love for video games is a 10$ donation to charity. The non-profit organization in question is the “Gamers Outreach Foundation”, which has been using the carefree joy of video games to help kids inside hospitals cope with treatments since 2007. The gamer-meets-hype beast movement is called “Campaign for a Cause” and is being hosted on the online marketplace StockX. Only on the retailer’s website can participants become eligible by donating to the aforementioned charity from October 21st to 23rd. “We’re seeing more StockX customers favour products and brands that have a presence in both the digital and physical worlds, and this collaboration between Adidas and Xbox not only appeals to that preference but also speaks to the convergence of fashion and gaming culture more broadly,” said StockX CMO Deena Bahri. “Through this partnership, we’re unlocking access for the values-driven, next-gen consumers fueling this shift and giving them the opportunity to donate to a more than worthy cause in Gamers Outreach.”
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The grand prize of this stroll down memory lane is a pair of Adidas sneakers titled the Xbox 20th Forum Tech. The pair of low-top Forum sneakers are a vibrant cocktail of black and neon green, with Xbox branding littered throughout. This fluorescent combo is an homage to a special edition of the original Xbox video game console that came out 20 years ago. Alongside the video game “Halo: Combat Evolved”, a limited edition Xbox was released that swapped the usual black casing found on the outside of the console and controller for a translucent green colour. On the side of the sneaker reads “SEATTLE WA 2001” in tribute to the date and birthplace of the Bill Gates-owned founding company Microsoft.
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Video game shoes have always been the subject of lore in the sneaker world. Simply take a look at the pair of Nike Air Force 1’s made in collaboration with PlayStation released in 2009 that now fetch 4 figures price tags on Stock X. The fact that these are the first-ever pair of Xbox branded Adidas sneakers makes the release all the more exciting. Xbox without a doubt paved the way for the games that are enjoyed all over the globe today; and what better way to celebrate than with shoes and a donation to charity.