Nike and PlayStation have a long-standing relationship that began over a decade ago, when the two brands combined for a limited edition run of Air Force 1s that coincided with Sony's release of the Playstation 3 in 2006.
The special edition shoes, limited to just 150 numbered pairs, were originally only available to Sony employees, preferred Nike ambassadors and lucky sweepstake winners. According to Nike, their product design team worked closely with PlayStation to come up with the design, which originally included a premium leather sample with laces in red.
Via Nike:
"When the PlayStation team finally got their hands on it, they knew they had something special that deserved to shine. That shine was provided with the addition of patent leather to the shoe’s toebox, eyestay and midfoot paneling. Purple laces would replace the red, topping off a design that screamed PlayStation. Complete with the striking fade at the heel and the timeless PlayStation logo, this would become the PlayStation x Nike Air Force 1 as we know it today. A meticulously crafted design that perfectly embodied the collaborative efforts from Nike and PlayStation."
"As part of the production process, nearly all round one samples of the initial premium leather version were destroyed. Fast forward to 2018, Nike and PlayStation continue to forge a strong legacy of collaboration. Fans of both brands can only imagine what comes next."
Nike has since released other Playstation-inspired sneakers, including the Playstation PG2, but the Air Force 1s remain exclusive. That said, by recalling this classic AF1 today, Nike has fuelled rumors that a new "Playstation" Air Force 1 is on tap for this summer.
