(Credit: Xbox / Ikea)
If you often find yourself walking into Ikea and being disappointed by its lack of nerd memorabilia, worry not. In an unlikely alliance, Ikea and Xbox have come together to produce a line of home goods specifically designed for—you guessed it—gamers. The collection is called YXSTABY and is currently available for purchase if you’re into that sort of thing.
The product line is a collaboration between designers from both brands and consists of furniture ranging from seating and storage to stools, chairs, display cases, and other gaming accessories. The lineup is generally made up of Ikea’s signature neutral tones like pine, black, and white, and highlighted with pops of Xbox green.
Standout items include a $49.99 green stool that’s shaped like a giant thumbstick, because everyone wants that, I guess, as well as a green cushion made in the much more tasteful image of a D-pad. There’s also a $39.99 gaming monitor stand, a $149.99 TV stand, and a $29.99 glass display box for controllers.
Storage items include a $179.99 wheeled end table with hidden shelves, a $17.99 silver dish that also resembles a D-pad (much less successfully, IMO), and a $34.99 toolbox-looking item that can serve as a laptop stand and storage bin. There’s also a gaming lounge chair that looks just like any other chair; it costs $119.99.
"By translating elements like the D-pad and thumbstick into functional furniture, we created pieces that celebrate Xbox design while feeling completely at home in everyday living spaces," says Carl Ledbetter, head of design for Xbox Devices.
Recommended by Our Editors
Personally, I'm getting more embarrassment than celebration. The products are either too subtle or too obvious in their nods to Xbox, and it seems like Ikea knows it, based on how it used Microsoft Gaming mascots to distract from the actual products in their promotional images.
In 2021, Ikea partnered with PC maker Asus to develop a line of gaming furniture that included gaming chairs, gaming desks, and... a wooden hand to grip your cables or headsets. It also teamed up with Sonos on speakers in 2019, but ended that collaboration last year after Sonos was forced to refocus on its core business after a disastrous app rollout.
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I’m a New York-based writer currently serving as PCMag’s Editorial Intern. I cover the impact of technology and internet culture on our daily lives, with a specialization in video games and cultural criticism.
I have written for Kotaku, The A.V. Club, Unwinnable, Aftermath, and more. In addition, I have a formal background in video game development and visual design. You can find all of my work on my website.
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