Nike is continuing its foray into the world of video games with a new collaboration. After partnering with EA Sports, Fortnite, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo 64, the brand with the comma has been forging one partnership after another for over thirty years. Some are purely commercial and questionable - notably those focused on NFTs - while others pay genuine tribute to a franchise or a landmark anniversary.

Today, the spotlight is on a classic from the 90s: Donkey Kong Country 2, released in 1995 on Super Nintendo. Colours, graphics and materials have been carefully chosen to appeal to fans of the franchise.

This pair of sneakers will feature beige, brown and yellow hues, evoking Donkey Kong's fur, with suede even imitating the hair of the famous gorilla. The Nike logo (the swoosh) will adopt the red colour of Donkey's tie and angles inspired by the 16-bit era, recalling Nike's dedicated video game range.

The tribute will be rounded off by a number of details, including a pixelated ‘NIKE AIR MAX’ logo on the tongue and soles featuring iconic gaming motifs such as coins and bananas.

Dubbed SWOOSH x Nike Air Max 1 ‘Big Head Origins ’, this special edition is expected to be released in Spring 2025 at a price of around €150. It will be exclusively reserved for Swoosh Nike members. Registration available here for those interested.