In retrospect, one could safely assume that there wouldn’t be a connection between the fashion and gaming industries. Some could even argue that both of these industries cater to two completely different types of audiences. However, thanks to the age of the Internet and social media culture, fashion in gaming have never been more relevant than it is today. In fact, it is so hyped that even the biggest names in fashion have been making moves to have their products featured on whatever game is currently trending.
THE PAST
But before we get into all that, let us at least take a quick walk down memory lane and remember how fashion in gaming even became a thing. Back in the earlier days of gaming, when everything was all but pixels, we couldn’t really appreciate the fashionable aspects of our favorite video game heroes. Link from The Legend of Zelda looked cute in his tiny pixel form but no one could tell how iconic his look was. Thankfully, Ocarina of Time came out on the Nintendo 64 and we finally saw his fully 3D-rendered character model and how badass his green Hyrulian outfit looked.
That’s why when 3D gaming was the next big thing, video game developers didn’t waste the chance to bring their characters to life even more. The early Tekken games are a great example of when game devs had the freedom to design the characters’ costumes to their heart’s extent. Remember that fire drip Armored King had in Tekken 3? Bro looked like he was about to head to the club right after laying the smackdown on you.
However, not all legendary video game characters started out looking cool. Yes, we are looking at you Lara Croft from the very first Tomb Raider game. All jokes aside, it’s pretty clear that fashion and gaming always had a connection, albeit a very lowkey connection.
THE PRESENT
When Iconic video game titles like The Sims and the Saints Row Series became pioneers in bringing Avante-garde fashion and character creation to video games, everyone knew that it was just going to get better (and weirder) from that point on.
Regardless of whether video game developers were creating new iconic characters, making you create your own, or simply reimagining an already established character, the fans always wanted more. More character skins, More customization, more accessories… So when the sixth and seventh generations of gaming arrived, character customization became an important factor in how to tell if the game was going to be a hit or not.
People suddenly stopped caring about games with linear and character-driven storylines and instead favored being able to warp their faces to look like Waluigi in a game where you shoot people and run over them with a monster truck. It comes as no surprise though, since it is embedded in our human DNA to want to be able to change or customize every little aspect of our lives. This was the catalyst. The very thing that attracted fashion enthusiasts to video games. And gamers, in turn, started adapting to the ever-changing world of fashion.
As of 2022, fashion and gaming have almost become unanimous because of character customization. Games like Fortnite have collaborated with Balenciaga to bring their products into the gaming world while Nike literally has a dedicated playground in Roblox.
In the real world, people are always on the lookout for the next video game/fashion collaboration. Gamers would immediately jump at the opportunity to wear anything that would represent their gaming community in the slightest. Modern cosplayers would show off their highly detailed video game character’s outfits during events and even on social media. So it seems like the future is bright for fashion in gaming. But what exactly would the future of gaming in fashion look like?
THE FUTURE
With the introduction of augmented and virtual reality in the Metaverse, It seems like fashion in gaming already found its next market. Although one could argue that the Metaverse is not really a big deal as of today, experts recommend not ignoring it completely. Take the Internet for example. The very essence that allows you to surf the web and read this article was once shunned and laughed at. Remember that clip from the 90s where David Letterman laughed at Bill Gates who was attempting to explain how the Internet was going to change the world? Yeah, that didn’t age so well.
Both startup investors and big tech companies were very much well aware of how NFTs and AR clothing were going to be the next big thing. And although the NFT market had its ups and downs, these companies are still going strong. Some of these fashion companies even started developing software that allows people to try on clothes using augmented reality which saves people a lot of time (and gas) when picking out their clothes. How cool is that?
On the other hand, video games have made such an impact in the world of modern fashion that even some of the latest designs today would pass as wearable items in a game such as Cyberpunk 2077 or Tower of Fantasy. Even traditional room setups are now a thing of the past as more and more gamers embrace the RGB culture turning their rooms or their gaming setup into something that sort of resembles a spaceship.
Artificial intelligence is also helping big companies predict what consumers will want to wear next. Some AI has evolved to the point where they can actually tell whether a single piece of clothing is considered stylish or not. But then again, Isn’t fashion subjective? Will we be forced to wear what computers think we should wear? Probably not but it’s kind of scary (and funny) to think about.
So whether you’re a gamer interested in fashion, or a fashionista who loves to game, always remember that you should still dress in the way you’re most comfortable with. Unless you can dress up like Cloud Strife. Then be Cloud Strife.
All in all, fashion and gaming have always been connected in one way or another. Regardless if the games are inspiring the fashion or vice versa. Fashion in gaming was there in the beginning and it most definitely is here to stay.
