Remember the days when we used to wear T-shirts with cool photos of our favorite celebrities or athletes? The world of fashion has always been influenced by current trends. Thus, in the modern world, the gaming industry has successfully influenced the fashion industry.
But has the fashion industry influenced the world of gaming? The answer will definitely shock you! So, let’s discuss what is fashion-driven video games and video games-driven fashion?
Gone are the days of 8-bit gaming, the graphics and storyline of the modern video games are captivating and real as f*ck! In addition, the inclusion of Virtual Reality technology in high-paced games has almost erased the distinction between the real and the virtual world of gaming.
Thus, many gaming studios and high-fashion labels have identified this situation as an opportunity to combine the two industries and have succeeded in doing so.
The development of unreal graphic technology and the incredible computing power of mobile chipsets have given rise to fashion-driven video games. Modern video game characters are not clunky.
In order to make the storyline of these titles more surreal than ever, a lot of research is done on the form, type, and appearance of the characters. But, according to CyberGhost’s blog piece, Super Mario Bros. was one of the first fashion-driven video games, released in the mid-80s.
In the following segment of this blog, I’ll share how the fashion industry and the gaming industry have collaborated and created a new niche for gamers and fashionistas. Thus, let’s dive deeper into the topic and explore what is fashion-driven video games and video games-driven fashion.
What is Fashion-Driven Video Games and Video Games-Driven Fashion? Let’s Take a Closer Look!
Fashion-Driven Video Games and Games-Driven Fashion are two sides of the same coin. It won’t be fair to consider all games are driven by fashion. However, many titles that are from the RPG, simulation, and fighting games genre are character-driven.
As I mentioned earlier, in order to make the game characters more interesting, the game studios also research about the appearance of characters and design outfits influenced by high street fashion. In the following section, we’ll explore some fashion-driven video games and characters.
Street Fighter 6
Street Fighter 6 is the latest flagship title developed and released by Capcom. The foreign fighting characters in this game, like E. Honda, Rashid, Guile,, and Chun-Li, are dressed in ethnic fashion apparel.
Capcom and famous game designers made the appearance of these characters according to the origin of the characters. However, in order to make the gameplay more interesting, the developers have also included the option to change the outfits, which are essentially driven by street fashion.
Fortnite
Fortnite is one of the most popular multiplayer games in the world. Unlike other multiplayer FPS games, the developers of this gaming title have collaborated with luxury fashion labels.
Luxury brands such as Balenciaga and Ralph Lauren have designed custom skins for the characters of the game. The majority of the online players on Fortnite can buy these expensive skins and other outfits through online purchase.
Need For Speed
Need For Speed is probably the only game in the racing category that is driven by fashion. Electronic Arts decided to give gamers the opportunity to design their own characters. Certain customization options are left open in this game.
On the other hand, certain character outfits in Need For Speed are designed by Balmain. Online players can make In-game purchases and buy these special outfits and make their gaming avatars look unique and trendy.
Minecraft
Have you ever thought about building an alternate world? A world where you can set the rules and change them whenever you want? Well, you can do every imaginable thing in Minecraft. This is the most customizable game in the world. Currently, the game developers and designers have come up with an amazing idea.
Players on Minecraft can now purchase and use special items and skins designed by luxury fashion brands like Lacoste and Burberry.
Video Games-Driven Fashion
Alright, we’ve discussed fashion-driven video games, but what about the other side? Well you’ve guessed it right! We’ll now talk about the video games-driven fashion and explore the actual influence of these video games in the real world.
A lot of luxury fashion brands have collaborated with gaming studios and designed skins and outfits for the game characters. However, some clothing brands have manufactured merchandise and clothing lines that are inspired by AAA titles and mobile games.
The whole idea of cosplay is to dress like a particular character, right? So, each year, thousands of gamers dress like their favorite gaming characters and attend gaming conventions. For example, in the Brasil Game Show, more than 300,000 gamers attended the event.
The majority of the game enthusiasts were dressed in gaming outfits inspired by characters like Kratos (God Of War Ragnarok), Chun-Li (Street Fighter 6), and Dante (Devil May Cry Series).
A few other clothing companies like Adidas, Louis Vuitton and Gucci have also collaborated with gaming studios, and released limited edition merchandise during famous gaming events or console launches.
Conclusion
We’ve discussed What is Fashion-Driven Video Games and Video Games-Driven Fashion. I hope you’ve seen both sides of the coin and understood the relationship between them. It’s only going to get bigger and better for these industries, if more collaborations are done in future.
Also read: Step Up Your Style with Nike Tech Jacket: Must-Have for Every Fashion Lover
