Just days after Nintendo dropped the hottest new game console, Balenciaga tried to do what it does best – hype-marketing. Marking the beginning of the Chinese ‘Year of the Snake’, the company gifted its “VICs” or Very Important Clients an elaborately packaged gaming console that plays the age-old Snake game. The most bizarre part? You can play the exact game for free on a browser on Balenciaga’s website.
The console looks like a Cybertruck and a Game Boy Classic had a baby. It’s minimal to the point of being bland, comes with a UI that puts the logo front-and-center instead of actual ergonomics, and only plays one game… although I expect someone to hack it so we can play Doom on it too.
Designer: Balenciaga
The problem with this console is that it isn’t really a gaming device – it’s merch. It’s limited to Balenciaga’s ‘valued clientele’, which comprises more of high-society elites rather than actual gamers. This gaming device has no games, isn’t designed keeping the gaming experience in mind, and isn’t even available to gamers… and that’s really what I loathe about it.
Just like everything Balenciaga does, this console is all about making a statement (even though the actual essence of the statement means nothing). The console has a basic plastic outer body, with a fairly cheap-looking monochrome LCD screen with a blue backlight. The buttons are especially infuriating given how they’re easy to miss thanks to their slim, linear design. Imagine a game controller with only spacebars for buttons – sounds oddly annoying, right? Now imagine the logo being bigger than the buttons and occupying prime real estate. Well, that’s Balenciaga for you. It’s a good thing this one isn’t for sale… I hate the idea of influencers and socialites shelling out thousands of dollars for something that would probably cost about as much as a cup of coffee if it were available on Temu.
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