If there’s one thing you can bet on, it’s that businesses will look for any and all opportunities to profit from a successful property. It’s no surprise, then, that the already lucrative world of video games has spawned a varied range of souvenirs, from simple t-shirts to massive statues that may be displayed in the corner of your room.
Sometimes those missteps are simply mediocre items that fail to garner much interest. Once in a while, however, something comes along so unusual, unfitting, or downright unsightly that it’s shocking that any person could’ve ever even thought of it.
Gamers have long used various sorts of clothing and collectibles to express themselves and share their love with the rest of the world. However, with thousands of corporations always attempting to extort as much money as possible from gamers, there are going to be a few blunders.
Here are 10 times the world of gaming has provided us with some strange tie-in merchandise.
Xbox is among the most well-known names in gaming, but the Microsoft-owned brand has also suffered a few notable road bumps throughout the years. However, no one can fault the team for finding ways to stay humble and turn potentially bad PR into hilariously clever merchandise.
Xbox Mini Fridge
When its Xbox Series X reveal resulted in memes joking that the console resembled a refrigerator, Microsoft simply met the moment by creating a life-sized replica fridge. Once gamers saw the company run with the joke, they were completely on board, so Microsoft has turned the whole thing around with a line of Xbox mini fridges that sold out within minutes.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II USB Stick.
Depending on who you ask, 2010’s Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II was either a great follow-up or a complete dud. But while opinions on the game itself have always remained varied, thoughts on a specific item in its Collector’s Edition are a bit less conflicting. In addition to the usual steelbook case and art book we’ve all come to expect, The Force Unleashed II Collector’s Edition featured a Mimobot USB drive in the shape of main character Starkiller. Not only is it hideous, with its awkward dimensions and elongated head, but it also provided a measly 2GB storage space. Thanks for that, LucasArts.
Resident Evil Cologne and Perfumes. When you’re getting ready for a date or night out on the town, you probably want to smell your best. Needless to say, that immediately evokes thoughts of the survival horror video game franchise Resident Evil, right?
Capcom apparently thinks so, as it released multiple versions of Resident Evil-themed cologne and perfume throughout the years, starting with 2017’s T-Virus cologne. The company even went so far as to clarify that the spray referenced the virus itself for the fragrance. How very delightful. Black Ops Jeep Wrangler
The 2011 limited edition Call of Duty: Black Ops Jeep Wrangler, which was designed to emulate the appearance of the Jeeps in the immensely popular first-person shooter, is easily the most expensive piece of video game merch on this list. Considering it’s a vehicle, it very well should be. If it sounds ridiculous, that’s because it is. Of course, with Activision’s bottomless coffers and penchant for going big on marketing, few people at the time were all that startled by this joint venture – but even fewer bothered spending $35,000+ for what was essentially just a black Jeep.
Angry Birds Bra. No one’s going to look at you funny if you’re a grown adult playing Angry Birds, but the kid-friendly nature of the beloved mobile game isn’t really up for debate. That’s why it was a bit unexpected to see an Angry Birds bra show up on Etsy about a decade ago.
News Summary:
- The ten strangest video game related products
- Check all news and articles from the latest Gaming News and updates.
Be the first to comment