Ikea has teamed up with Microsoft to launch a new assortment of gaming-inspired furniture and home accessories, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the first Xbox console. The nine-piece Yxstaby collection (good luck pronouncing that) includes a TV stand, laptop stand, side table, lounge chair, and multi-functional toolbox, with standout products like a stool, cushion, decorative platter, and mirrored display box being specifically designed around recognizable Xbox controller motifs.
The Yxstaby range makes it easier to “bring play into a room and tuck everything away afterwards,” according to Ikea’s press release, with each piece created as a collaboration between Xbox and Ikea designers to naturally co-exist alongside the furniture you already own. It makes use of familiar Scandi-themes like neutral colors and shapes, paired with flashes of Xbox’s iconic green that draw attention to the pockets and compartments designed to hold gaming gear.
“How people play at home has shifted, and it is as much about relaxing and connecting with others as it is about performing, which changes what the space has to do,” said Ikea product design developer, Philip Dilé. “Together, we set out to make furniture people really want in their home, not furniture they accept because it is what you need to game.”
The green X-shaped scatter cushion and thumbstick-inspired stool are among the most Xbox-coded pieces in the Yxstaby collection. Ikea says the stool was developed using original 3D design files for the Xbox controller, with the grippy textured surface now serving to prevent your butt from slipping around instead of sweaty thumbs. The lounge chair comes with a mesh pocket on the underside that’s designed to store your game controllers, but it also looks roomy enough for wider items like magazines and large books.
The TV stand is an easel-style design that’s available in white or black (presumably as a nod to the Xbox console color schemes), and features shelves and hooks for holding your various gadgets and gaming accessories. It also comes with castors so it can be wheeled around the home, as does the side table, which includes a green tray for additional storage.
The mirrored display box comes in black or white, and looks ideal for anyone who wants to turn a collection of Xbox gaming controllers into wall decor. The metalic trinket dish is inspired by the D-pad controller, but subtle enough to not appear obviously gaming related. There’s also a wooden toolbox, which is one of the least Xbox-coded looking items in the collection, but Ikea says it also doubles as a laptop stand for some reason.
“I queued all night 25 years ago to get my hands on the first Xbox console, so those shapes are nostalgic to me,” says Ikea designer David Wahl. “The challenge was making it work as a stool, with the right seating curve and stability, while still feeling like a thumbstick. It even moves the way a thumbstick does, so it tilts with you while you play.”
Yxstaby will be available online and in Ikea stores sometime this Autumn, although prices and launch dates will vary by market.
