Xbox and adidas started a global partnership to celebrate their shared heritage of play, unveiling their first console-inspired sneaker collaboration in honor of the 20th Anniversary of Xbox. This collaboration kicked off the global launch of the “Always Played In. Never Played Out.” program. It celebrated the popular eras of play over the last two decades, across sport, gaming, and lifestyle and the magic that happens when all consumers take time to play, and a celebration of three distinct eras of Xbox history.
The partnership started with an exclusive, new adidas Originals by Xbox sneaker: the Xbox 20th Forum Tech. It has translucent green details inspired by the special edition release of the original Xbox console and the launch of Halo: Combat Evolved in 2001, marking the first-ever generation of gaming at Microsoft. The adidas Forum Tech design balanced nostalgia while embracing modern technology and is symbolic of how we look at Xbox history — celebrating the last 20 years and looking ahead to the limitless future of gaming.
Xbox and adidas were excited to debut the partnership’s launch trailer “adidas Originals by Xbox – 20 Years of Play” which celebrates the era of play most prevalent when the first Xbox console launched in the early 2000s — skateboarding culture. Filmed and edited like a skate tape pulled straight from 2001, it followed a group of friends as they skate through their day in the Xbox 20th Forum Tech sneakers, pulling off tricks and playing some Halo: Combat Evolved on the original Xbox.
Next, Xbox and adidas continued their partnership by unveiling the second sneaker: The Xbox 360 Forum Mid, the first-ever Xbox-themed sneaker available to purchase for fans in the U.S. and Canada.
With a plethora of visual throwbacks and Easter eggs that fans loved, the Xbox 360 Forum Mid was truly designed as a love letter to one of the most iconic consoles in gaming history. Drawing inspiration from the original Xbox 360 console’s colors — white, silver, and green — the incredible details highlighted throughout the sneaker represent a playful celebration and nod to the vibrant history of Xbox. On the strap, you’ll note the Xbox 360 disc tray, along with the classic 360-era Xbox button design on the shoe’s outer side and the console’s air vents on the inner side. Additionally, the heel features references to the Xbox 360’s distinctive removable hard drive and memory unit slots, as well as four additional pairs of laces in red, yellow, green, and blue (representing the face buttons of the Xbox 360 controller). There were a myriad of details to discover and enjoy, including some hidden secrets for fans.
