Microsoft Partners With IKEA For Xbox-Themed Furniture Line

Microsoft has entered into a merchandising partnership with IKEA to launch YXSTABY, a nine-piece collection of home furnishings themed after the Xbox console, as The Register first reported.

Unveiled at Gamescom, the collection includes items such as a stool modeled after a controller's thumbstick and a D-pad shaped cushion. The range is scheduled to be available online and in retail stores starting October 1. This follows a previous gaming-focused effort from IKEA known as the BRÄNNBOLL collection, which featured gaming bolsters and rugs.

While IKEA's standard cushions and platters retail for £12 and wheeled side tables for up to £115 in the UK, the YXSTABY range represents a lifestyle expansion for a brand currently undergoing significant internal turmoil. The Register reports that Xbox leader Asha Sharma has recently overseen the layoff of thousands of workers as part of an effort to "reset the business" and improve the platform's competitiveness.

This pivot toward merchandise comes as Microsoft faces rising hardware costs. The Microsoft Store lists the Xbox Series S at £429.99 and the Series X at £669.99. Microsoft has noted that console memory and storage prices have increased by more than 2.5x since the 2020 launch of the Series S, with the company expecting prices to double again by the fall of 2027 due to supply shortages.