CD Projekt Red is preparing to releaseCyberpunk 2077soon, and Adidas is hoping to get in on the action with a pair of sneakers that tie into the highly-anticipated game. However, while some fans have expressed excitement over the shoes, many others are not impressed.
Adidas has yet to officially announce theCyberpunk 2077sneakers, but a popular Instagram shoe collector and self-described “sneaker sample specialist” named solebyjc unveiled the pair on social media. The shoes are the not the first real-life clothing products to tie in with the game.Cyberpunk-inspired clothing is already available on the web, and onecostume designer created a jacket inspiredCyberpunk 2077.
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The Adidas X9000L4 BoostCyberpunk 2077running shoes are accented with purple and gold tones, and feature bright yellowCyberpunklettering on the sides. With its eye-grabbing colors and animal-print pattern, the design takes obvious influence from theneo-kitsch style that is worn by high-class inhabitants ofCyberpunk 2077’s Night City. But while the shoes would probably look great in the extremely-stylized world ofCyberpunk 2077, how they look in real life is more questionable.
Many fans on Instagram and Twitter took issue with the flashy design, with some flat-out calling them unattractive. One Twitter user said the shoes were “unpleasant looking." Others expressed annoyance thatCyberpunkis being used to brand non-gaming products, asCD Prokjekt Red is also tying the game to energy drinks. A few people went so far as to say that usingCyberpunk 2077to brand non-gaming products goes against the anti-corporate philosophy of the genre.
However, others have praised the shoes for using the same style that has been shown off in multipleCyberpunk 2077trailers. Some said they planned on ordering the shoes as soon as they were made available.
TheCyberpunksneakers are not Adidas’ first foray into using pop culture trends to brand their products. Last year, the company released a pair ofStar Warshoes.Adidas has also partnered with popular Twitch Streamer Ninjato create multiple pairs of jogging shoes, most of which have sold out fast.
How people respond to the aesthetic design of clothing – especially shoes – is completely subjective. What one fan may love, another may find completely unattractive. That is one of the reasons why CD Projekt Red is looking to give fans freedom over how they choose tocustomize their main character, V, inCyberpunk 2077.
Fans who do want a pair will have to wait and see when they release, and how much they will cost, as Adidas has yet to officially announce the shoes.
Cyberpunk 2077releases November 19 for PC, Xbox One and PS4. Both console versions will be backwards compatible for next-gen consoles.
