Xbox Controller Turned Into Furniture, The Idea Of Gaming Room Is Changing
When we think of a “gaming furniture”, more or less the same image appears in our minds: RGB lights, black-red gaming chair, a large desk, dual monitors and a gaming corner that looks completely different from the rest of the house. For years, technology brands have been designing the gaming area almost as a separate room category. IKEA and Xbox do the opposite with the new YXSTABY collection. Instead of separating the player from the house, it mixes the game into the house.
Introduced at Gamescom 2026, IKEA x Xbox YXSTABY is a new furniture and accessories collection consisting of nine pieces. The collaboration also brings together Xbox's 25 years of design and gaming experience and IKEA's more than 80 years of home living knowledge. However, perhaps the most interesting aspect of the collection is not that it produces furniture with the Xbox logo on it. IKEA and Xbox are trying to rethink the concept of “gaming setup” by examining where people actually play games today. Because gaming no longer only takes place at the computer desk; It takes place in life in the living room, on the sofa, at the dining table, on the laptop, on the television and when other family members are in the same environment. According to data shared by IKEA, gaming is a part of daily life for more than three billion people around the world.
This is exactly where YXSTABY's design idea comes from: Instead of turning your home into a gaming room, turning your home into a gaming area when necessary.
Why Did IKEA and Xbox Design Furniture Together?
At first glance, IKEA and Xbox may seem like two brands that are quite distant from each other. One is in the world of furniture and home life, the other is in the world of video games and technology. But from a user experience perspective, the intersection of the two is much larger than we think.
Xbox designs the game itself and the hardware through which we access the game.
IKEA is the physical environment in which we use that hardware.
Xbox Devices Head of Design Carl Ledbetter explains this relationship very well: At Xbox, they think a lot about the player's immersion in the game, and the hardware helps this happen; However, he says that for a truly immersive experience, the entire area in which the game is played is important. This is where IKEA's expertise comes into play.
YXSTABY is therefore not just a licensed product collection on which IKEA prints the Xbox logo. According to IKEA's statement, one designer from each company worked together on each product. The teams visited houses where people played and also examined their real life habits. Xbox brought 25 years of gaming and hardware experience, and IKEA brought decades of home life and furniture design knowledge to the project.
The result is a collection that deliberately stays away from the classic "gamer furniture" aesthetic.
White.
Black.
Beige.
Light wood.
Simple geometries.
And Xbox green only in certain spots.
In other words, the aim is to make your living room still look like a living room when you turn off the television.
This seemingly small design decision actually explains the entire philosophy of YXSTABY.
“Gaming House” Instead of Gaming Room
What the gaming industry has done for many years is to create a separate world for the player.
Gaming chair.
Gaming desk.
Gaming monitor.
Gaming keyboard.
Gaming mouse.
Gaming headset.
Even gaming room.
Most of these products visually distinguish themselves from other furniture in the house. Aggressive lines, neon colors, RGB lighting and racing seat-like designs have become a kind of visual code of gamer aesthetics.
IKEA x Xbox asks a different question:
Do actors really live like this?
In reality, many people do not have a separate playroom.
A person is playing Xbox on the TV in the living room.
Another person is opening a laptop at the dining table.
A child uses a console in his room.
A couple shares the same living room.
When the game is over, the television is used for Netflix.
The table turns into a dining table again.
The laptop is being removed.
The controls remain in the middle.
Cables are revealed.
IKEA's official statement states that YXSTABY was born from exactly this behavior: the game moves from room to room and screen to screen within the house; It takes place alongside homework, meals and daily life.
Therefore, most of the products in the collection do not establish a fixed gaming setup.
Moving the gaming setup.
This is a much more interesting design problem.
Even the Television Moves When the Play Starts
One of the best examples of the YXSTABY collection is the TV unit on wheels.
The regular television unit has a very clear role in the home. It sits against the wall, the television is placed on it, and doesn't move much for years.
YXSTABY changes this behavior.
There are wheels under the TV unit. Behind it, there are areas where Xbox, cables and other gaming equipment can be stored. When it's time to play, the screen can be adjusted to the appropriate position; After the game is over, it can be moved to another point. IKEA repeats the same idea in all pieces of the collection: furniture should adapt to the space in which the actor is located, rather than imposing space on the actor.
The wheeled side table is designed in a similar way. It offers a surface where you can place the controller, drink or phone while playing games on the couch; There is space behind the sliding compartments where game equipment can be stored and charged.
These are not flashy technological innovations.
But that's what good product design often does.
Recognizing a small but persistent problem that the user experiences.
“Where do I put the remote control?”
“Why are the cables always visible?”
“Where do I put all the equipment away after playing games on the laptop?”
“How can I play games without turning the living room into a permanent gaming room?”
YXSTABY's design approach is largely shaped around these questions.
Portable Gaming Station, Not a Laptop Bag
One of the smarter products of the collection is the laptop support with storage space.
At first glance it looks like a simple wooden box. However, keyboard, mouse, cable, adapter and other equipment can be placed inside the product; The upper part turns into a laptop stand.
IKEA designer Max Hausmann's observation formed the starting point of this product. Hausmann noticed that many people were playing games in their living rooms with laptops. Thereupon, together with Xbox designer Elliot Hsu, they developed a product that is portable, ergonomic and also serves as storage.
Thus, the user can turn the dining table or living room into a playground in a few minutes.
When the game is over, the equipment goes into the box.
The laptop is shutting down.
The table returns to its normal function.
The recurring design idea throughout YXSTABY's entire collection is very clear here:
Gaming does not have to be permanent; It may appear and disappear.
This approach is quite logical, especially for small houses.
Not everyone has space for a separate study, game room or large gaming table. IKEA has been trying to solve small living spaces with transformable furniture for years. Xbox collaboration is actually the application of this IKEA philosophy to the gaming world.
Xbox Controller's Analog Stick Turned into a Giant Stool
The most entertaining piece of the collection is undoubtedly the YXSTABY Thumbstick Stool.
Think of an Xbox controller.
Grab the right or left analog stick.
Make it huge.
And sit on it.
IKEA did almost exactly that.
But the design process behind the stool is much more serious than it seems at first glance. IKEA used the original 3D design files of the Xbox controller and worked with Xbox device designers to develop the product. The characteristic grip tissue used to prevent the thumb from slipping on the analog stick was enlarged and transferred to the seating surface of the stool. Here, the same pattern helps prevent the human, not the finger, from slipping.
The more beautiful detail is the movement mechanism.
The analog stick on the Xbox controller is not fixed.
It bends when you direct it.
The YXSTABY stool also mimics the same behavior.
IKEA designer David Wahl explains that the product tilts with the person sitting on it when it moves, and that one of the biggest challenges during the design was getting the seating curve and balance right while maintaining the feel of the analog stick.
This is a great example of how brand collaboration should be done.
The easiest way was to put the Xbox logo on the stool.
IKEA did not do this.
Xbox changed the behavior of product design to furniture.
Found on the analog stick:
form,
texture,
motion
Reinterpreted on a different scale.
One centimeter thumb movement turned into the movement of the human body.
Therefore, the stool ceases to be just a funny “Xbox merch” product and turns into a real industrial design work.
D-Pad Now Cushion and Serving Tray
Another iconic part of the Xbox controller has also moved into the collection: the D-pad.
The X-shaped geometry of the arrow key turns into two completely different objects in YXSTABY.
The first is a soft cushion.
The second is a decorative serving tray made of shiny stainless steel.
How the same geometry becomes soft and huggable in one product and hard and reflective in another is a very simple but successful design trick.
It is stated that IKEA designers Darja Nordberg and David Wahl tested different colors, textures and versions on the D-pad cushion and finally decided on a soft X shape that can also be used as a decorative object in different parts of the house.
There's no need for the Xbox logo here again.
The Xbox player already understands the reference when he sees the shape.
This is a very valuable situation in terms of branding.
Because really strong brands don't need to write their names.
Nike's swoosh.
Apple's apple.
McDonald's belts.
And in the gaming world, the specific geometries of the Xbox controller.
YXSTABY collection brings this product design memory created by Xbox over the years to furniture.
Remotes Are No Longer Hidden, They Are On Display
The mirrored showcase in the collection captures another change in gaming culture.
In the past, gaming equipment were electronic devices that were put in a drawer when not in use.
Today, specially produced controllers, consoles, figures and collectible products have become a part of people's personal spaces.
YXSTABY's mirrored display box is designed to show the Xbox controller from different angles. However, it does not have to be used only for remote control; Figures and other small collectible objects that the user wants to display can also be placed.
This small product actually summarizes the point of gaming culture very well.
The remote is no longer just an input device.
Design object.
Limited edition controllers are the best example of this.
Different colors, game themes and special productions caused people to create controller collections.
IKEA sees this as a personal object that can be displayed, not as technology that needs to be hidden.
Why Doesn't YXSTABY Look Like Classic “Gaming Furniture”
In our opinion, this is one of the most successful aspects of the collection.
When you look at YXSTABY, not all of the products scream “GAMER”.
IKEA says this is intentional.
Straight lines and softer forms in the collection; It is combined with neutral tones such as white, black and beige. Xbox green, on the other hand, is used for visual guidance in certain functional areas such as pockets, hangers and equipment compartments, rather than covering the entire product.
This is very clever.
Because one of the biggest problems of gaming aesthetics is that it has been fighting with home decoration for a long time.
A gray sofa.
Wooden coffee table.
Beige carpet.
White wall.
And a neon red-black racing seat in the corner.
IKEA's approach is the opposite:
He adapts his gaming furniture to the home.
His home is not gaming furniture.
Therefore, even someone who does not own an Xbox can use many of the items in the collection.
In IKEA's own narrative, it is particularly emphasized that the products continue to work in daily life when the game is closed.
This approach can be seen as a further version of the idea that IKEA initiated with its previous BRÄNNBOLL gaming collection. IKEA has been trying for a long time to see the "gaming furniture" category as not only consisting of professional gamer tables. Xbox collaboration adds a strong cultural identity to this.
Both Brands Act Like Themselves in This Collaboration
One of the most difficult things in successful brand collaborations is that the two brands do not lose their identity.
Sometimes on collab products it looks like one brand has been pasted on top of another.
In YXSTABY, the distribution of tasks is quite natural.
Xbox:
player,
controller,
gaming culture,
gaming behavior
brings.
If IKEA:
house,
furniture,
storage,
ergonomics,
small space solutions
brings.
At the intersection of the two brands is the physical space where the actor lives.
That's why collaboration feels logical.
It would be strange for Xbox to produce furniture on its own.
IKEA's production of furniture inspired by the Xbox controller would have remained superficial on its own.
But the fact that the design teams develop the products together brings together the expertise of the two brands in the same objects.
Moreover, the timing is quite meaningful for Xbox.
The brand is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Instead of just producing a nostalgic Xbox console or specially colored controller for the celebration, it brings the brand's 25-year-old design language into the home.
This is a more lasting brand experience.
IKEA Is Actually Normalizing Gaming
This is perhaps the most culturally interesting aspect of YXSTABY.
For many years, gaming was seen as a separate activity within the home.
Kid's room.
Computer room.
Basement.
Gaming room.
IKEA, on the other hand, treats gaming as one of the ordinary activities that take place at home, such as eating, watching television or reading a book.
In the company's official statement, it is particularly emphasized that gaming is an important part of the daily lives of more than three billion people.
This perspective changes design.
If gaming is a special activity, special furniture is required.
But if gaming is part of daily life, the furniture must be able to transition between daily life and gaming.
YXSTABY does exactly that.
The coffee table is a normal coffee table.
Then the gaming stand.
Box storage space.
Then the laptop stand.
TV unit living room furniture.
Then gaming setup.
The stool is a normal seating element.
But also the giant Xbox thumbstick.
This double identity is one of the strongest aspects of the collection.
Where Does the Name YXSTABY Come From?
Even the name of the collection carries a little Xbox joke.
YXSTABY.
When you look at the Xbox controller, the classic Y, X, B and A keys on the right side are immediately noticeable. The name YXSTABY refers to this characteristic control language of the Xbox controller. IKEA Netherlands also clearly states that the name of the collection comes from the action buttons on the Xbox controller.
At the same time, the word is strange enough to fit naturally within IKEA's Swedish product naming system.
That's why the name feels like it belongs to both brands.
A small but successful branding detail.
The Collection Goes on Sale on October 1
According to IKEA's global statement, the nine-piece YXSTABY collection will be available for sale in IKEA stores and online channels as of October 1, 2026. However, the company specifically states that product availability will vary by market.
The distribution model is also different in some countries. For example, IKEA Germany announced that the collection will be available in stores on October 1st and online on October 15th and that it will be a limited collection.
For this reason, it would not be correct to say "on sale on October 1st" for Türkiye right now. It should also be clarified which YXSTABY products IKEA Turkey will or will not bring and what the local pricing will be like.
The first prices in international markets show that IKEA does not position these products only as expensive collection pieces. For example, in the prices announced in the UK, the thumbstick stool is listed at £35, the lounge chair is listed at £89 and the TV unit on wheels is listed at £99.
So, despite the Xbox brand and special design, IKEA's classic accessible design approach has not been completely abandoned.
IKEA x Xbox Collaboration Shows Us How to Make a Good Collab
What makes YXSTABY interesting is not actually the Xbox controller turning into a giant stool.
It's easy to do.
You enlarge a control model and add a seating surface.
The real good design detail is this:
IKEA understands why the analog stick was designed that way.
The tissue used to prevent the thumb from slipping ensures that the person does not slip.
The bending movement of the analog stick turns into the movement of the stool.
The geometry of the D-pad becomes a cushion.
Since the remote control has become a collection object, a mirrored display area is being designed.
Instead of covering the entire furniture, Xbox green directs it to the sections where the equipment is located.
So brand identity comes not from the logo, but from product behavior.
That's why YXSTABY is more successful than a simple merchandise collection.
This is exactly what good brand collaborations should do.
Not putting one brand's logo on another's product.
Translating one brand's way of thinking into another brand's product.
Conclusion: The Xbox Controller Has Got Bigger, But What Has Really Changed is the Gaming Area
When we first look at YXSTABY, the analog stick-shaped stool naturally attracts attention.
Funny.
Photogenic.
Can be shared on social media.
The kind of object people would want to sit on at the Gamescom booth.
But the actual design idea of the collection is much more interesting than the stool.
IKEA and Xbox tell us that we no longer have to create a special “gaming room” to play games.
Because gaming is already in the house.
On the couch.
At the dinner table.
On the laptop.
On television.
In the nursery.
In the living room.
YXSTABY also adapts furniture to this reality.
He designs pieces that appear when the game starts and turn into everyday furniture when the game ends.
Therefore, it would be unfair to read the IKEA x Xbox collaboration as just “Xbox-themed IKEA furniture”.
There's a bigger design change here.
For years, the gaming industry has been telling us:
“Create a private space to play.”
he said.
IKEA and Xbox say something else:
“Play where you already live.”
And perhaps that's exactly the idea that's better suited to the modern gamer's home.
Nur Oğuz