Retro done right: Reebok and PlayStation’s tie in

Not all quirky collaborations are apt, well-thought-out, or remotely wearable, but the Reebok x PlayStation 30th Anniversary sneaker campaign manages to be all three.

Reebok and PlayStation are celebrating three decades of gaming legacy with the PlayStation x Reebok sneaker tie in, a special collection of console-themed trainers released globally in limited drops.

The collaboration, developed in close partnership with Sony Interactive Entertainment and hyped across social media by influencers like Steve Natto, features region-exclusive models that blend PlayStation iconography (from button motifs to classic grey palettes) with Reebok’s silhouette history.

Launch imagery and social videos focus on the deep nostalgia shared by gamers and sneaker collectors alike. PlayStation’s Jill Erb notes the campaign is all about connecting generations, honouring those who grew up with the original console, as well as new fans entering the fold.

Our Take

This is retro done right: a truly earnest bit of fan service, down to the box, which emulates the original PlayStation packaging. 

We reckon it’s bound to be a hit due to the ravenous appetites of both ‘Sneakerheads’ and gamers alike.

The footwear items work because they combine genuinely nostalgic products from the same era, but from two very different brands. The grey tones are a subtle ‘if you know you know’ kind of reference, but they work as standalone trainers, even for those who, in fact, ‘don’t know’.

I am biased, however, given that the campaign recalls my own God Tier Level playground hierarchy jumping when I donned a pair of Pumps in the early 90s.