Swedish home furnishings manufacturer IKEA has announced a joint furniture collection developed in partnership with American gaming brand Xbox. The series, named YXSTABY, includes twelve distinct items: a specialized chair, mobile side tables, stands for TV panels and computer monitors, as well as decorative elements that recreate the visual details of a gaming controller. The commercial launch of the collection is scheduled for October of this year, with products available both at IKEA's branded retail locations and through the retailer's official online store. Details regarding the international release timeline have not been disclosed at the time of publication.
In an official press release, the Swedish company described the new series as a reflection of a modern trend in which dedicated gaming furniture is moving out of teenagers' isolated rooms and into shared living spaces such as living rooms. Product development was carried out through the combined efforts of design teams from both corporations, enabling the functional requirements of gamers to be integrated into a Scandinavian mass-market aesthetic.
The most distinctive item in the collection is a specialized seat that replicates the shape of the analog stick from a standard Xbox controller. The product is offered in two color options — green and black. According to the manufacturer, the original three-dimensional files of the gamepad were used in creating the model, ensuring maximum geometric accuracy of the form. The design features a mechanical tilt of the seat that follows the user's movements, mimicking the behavior of a real analog stick. Company representatives state that this feature allows users to maintain a comfortable body position during extended gaming sessions.
The remaining items in the series are characterized by a more utilitarian purpose. The range includes specialized display cases for storing controllers, TV cabinets on wheeled bases, a laptop stand with a built-in accessory compartment, and a side table for peripheral equipment. Also worth noting are a decorative pillow and a serving tray styled after the D-pad — the cross-shaped control element. Both items replicate the shape of the concave metal cross from the premium Xbox Elite gamepad and are the most affordably priced within the entire collection.
Xbox Design Director Carl Ledbetter noted that the company places significant emphasis on factors that contribute to user immersion in the gaming experience. In his view, hardware represents only part of that experience, while the surrounding environment plays an equally important role. The collaboration with IKEA provided an opportunity to design a comprehensive gaming environment within the home, encompassing both the area in front of the screen and the surrounding space. Prototypes of all items in the collection are already on display at the Xbox branded booth at the international gamescom exhibition, allowing visitors to familiarize themselves with the products several months ahead of the retail launch.