If anybody fancies watching Zak’s Miami Vice Blu-ray assortment, hit him up.
Revealed: September 1, 2026
It is simple to search out gaming-themed throw pillows or different tchotchkes on Etsy or elsewhere on the web, however an official collaboration is a uncommon sight. Evidently, I used to be intrigued when IKEA invited me to see their collaboration with Xbox at Gamescom.
The set, referred to as the “YXSTABY” assortment, consists of 9 items. Some, just like the thumbstick stool or the D-Pad pillow, virtually scream “Xbox!” in a show of nerd cred, although others are extra refined and centered on utility over eye-candy enchantment. I spoke to David Wahl, Designer at IKEA of Sweden, who talked me via a number of of the merchandise and the philosophy of the collaboration. These merchandise will launch in US shops starting on Thursday, October 1, 2026, and will probably be purchasable on-line beginning on November 30.
The thumbstick stool, which relies immediately on the Xbox controller analog stick (however scaled up and modified to accommodate a human butt) in all probability is not one thing you need to sit on for hours on finish, nevertheless it’s good for a visiting ‘participant 2’ to go a number of rounds, and its flat floor additionally makes for a good gaming-themed facet desk.
It would not have the identical vary of motion as an actual analog stick, nevertheless it does rock slightly, permitting for gamers to bounce and bop round whereas taking part in. There have been earlier variations of the stool that have been described as ‘enjoyable’ however have been possibly slightly too harmful for on a regular basis use, since they’d a a lot wider vary of motion akin to an actual analog stick. “It was so enjoyable to sit down on, however probably harmful,” Wahl reminisced, with a nostalgic grin. “Then we made a brilliant boring one that did not transfer in any respect. There is a steadiness to discovering one the place you possibly can nonetheless rock on the chair and really feel a bit lively.”
If the thumbstick stool is a gaming gimmick with a level of sensible utility, the correct armless lounge chair is the true deal. It would not look Xbox-themed, nevertheless it’s cozy to sit down in and has a nifty compartment beneath the seat to discreetly retailer a controller. Being armless, you may get a bit fatigued after a protracted gaming session, however that is the place the brand new D-Pad pillow is available in. It is acquired the traditional videogame D-Pad form and is available in a distinctly Xbox shade of inexperienced. I used to be capable of take considered one of these pillows house with me and I’ve acquired to confess, it is fairly rad.
It is sturdy however delicate and the form is ergonomic and versatile. Behind your neck, comforting your decrease again, or in your lap, it does what a pillow is meant to do, with sufficient give to be snug with out compromising its form. Perhaps that appears like excessive reward for a pillow, however in case you have again, neck, or shoulder issues, you understand {that a} good pillow is tough to search out. Wahl agrees: “The extra we used it, we discovered it is truly actually purposeful and playful, even whilst you’re working.” Perhaps you will have bother discovering a pillowcase to accommodate its distinctive form, however that is tomorrow’s drawback.
One other cool piece is the ‘controller platter,’ a plate constructed with the precise dimensions of the Elite D-Pad, simply scaled up. “The form of the D-Pad is very nice by itself,” defined Wahl. “My dad would really like it. But when you understand it is the D-Pad, that is a complete different stage of connection to gaming. That is the sort of factor we sought to realize with this assortment.” There’s not a lot to say about this one, apart from that it is fairly and looks like a great place to throw your keys once you get house from work. The mock recreation room they’d arrange on the sales space had a bunch of those on the wall, which appeared good and evoked the previous Americana imagery of hubcaps as wall decor, simply up to date for the Gamer (™) aesthetic.
One other noteworthy piece is the TV stand, which is IKEA’s first TV stand with wheels. It accommodates televisions as much as round 55 inches, and has a nifty again shelf that allows you to stash controllers, energy strips, and even a console or two with out them taking on valuable show house. It is not the flashiest design (the truth is, it appears downright utilitarian), nevertheless it’s an ideal resolution in terms of console storage and making environment friendly use of your house. In case you reside in a tiny condominium in an enormous metropolis, you know the way essential it’s to make use of each inch of residing house.
The stand showcases one of many principal hooks of this collaboration, which isn’t simply to make stuff that is Xbox-themed, however to craft IKEA items that cater to the wants of videogame fans. “We did not need to simply take an IKEA couch and put the Xbox brand on it. We needed to make one thing from scratch and really present the collaboration between the manufacturers.” If there’s one factor most videogame gamers can agree on, it is that we may at all times use extra space for storing to retailer equipment like spare controllers, USB dongles, charging cords, batteries, headsets, and so on. Positive, the facet desk may not be sufficiently big to discreetly stash a complete suite of Stage Tour musical devices (you will want a complete closet for that!), however it is going to go a great distance in direction of making your recreation room slightly extra tidy, a lot to the reduction of your vital different, your dad and mom, or your non-gaming roommates.
The ultimate piece I need to point out is the gaming laptop computer help stand, which appears sort of like a fruit basket. In case your laptop computer is slightly previous or mighty highly effective and runs scorching, the elevated stand will assist dissipate the warmth, and the additional peak is nice for gaming or watching movies. Plus, true to the theme, the stand has room for storing equipment like gaming controllers, microphones, a mouse or exterior keyboard, and your laptop computer charger.
General, this is not a technique to “gameify” your videogame room. This isn’t a set of LED strips and lava lamps. It is a assortment of items that supply a mixture of type and utility for Xbox fans that gives consolation and aptitude to intensify your lounge, den, recreation room, ‘man cave,’ or no matter you need to name it, and to make that house much more accommodating to lengthy hours of taking part in videogames. In that aim, it is exhausting to see the YXSTABY assortment as something apart from a powerful success.
