YXSTABY is a collection of nine products that naturally integrate video gaming into the home environment, in any room, alongside all the other activities and people sharing the same space. Unveiled for the first time at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, the collection will be available in IKEA stores starting October 1 and online from October 15, 2026.
Gaming is one of the most popular hobbies globally and an important part of daily life for over 3 billion people. At home, gaming moves from one room to another and from one screen to another, and often happens alongside everyday activities: at the kitchen table, on the sofa, or while dinner is being prepared. The YXSTABY collection was created based on how video games are part of home life today, offering versatile pieces that easily adapt to any space and find their natural place in the home even after the game is over.
YXSTABY is the result of a collaboration between IKEA and XBOX, with each product created by a designer from each team. XBOX brought 25 years of experience and understanding of how people play, while IKEA contributed over 80 years of expertise in home living. The collection’s development process also included visits to homes where gaming is part of the daily routine. Throughout the process, designers considered both the needs of gamers and the needs of the people they share their space with. For example, how can an armchair support different gaming positions and styles, offer discreet storage for equipment once the game is over, and at the same time blend naturally into a living room or any other space?
“The way people play at home has changed. Today, video games are not just about focus and performance, but also about relaxation and time spent together, and the home needs to respond to all of these needs. XBOX knows very well what gamers need when it comes to their setup, and we know how to solve the small challenges that come up when that setup needs to fit into everyday life. Together, we set out to create pieces that people actually want in their homes, not just solutions they choose out of necessity when they play,” says Philip Dilé, Product Design Developer, IKEA of Sweden.
The collection makes it easier to integrate gaming into a room and to organize equipment once play is over. The mobile TV stand the first product of its kind developed by IKEA can easily be moved to wherever the game is happening and includes storage space for equipment.
For those without a dedicated gaming space, the accessories box offers a practical solution for storing controllers, cables, and other equipment. Its lid can also be used as a laptop stand, allowing the dining table to easily become a gaming space and be cleared just as quickly once play is finished.
The other products in the collection also come with practical solutions for home gaming. The mobile side table can easily be moved wherever needed and offers storage space for controllers, along with a hidden charging area behind sliding doors. The monitor stand allows the screen or even two screens to be positioned at the desired height and includes spaces for storing a phone, headphones, and a controller.
“At XBOX we think a lot about what helps players fully enjoy the gaming experience. The equipment matters, but so does the environment. The collaboration with IKEA gave us the chance to understand this experience as a whole, from the screen to the surrounding space,” says Carl Ledbetter, Head of Design, XBOX.
Design inspired by the iconic XBOX controller
The XBOX controller is an endless source of inspiration for the collection, influencing both the look and the functionality of several products. Its familiar shapes and details are translated in unexpected ways and turned into gaming solutions adapted for home life.
The iconic shape of the D-pad is reinterpreted in the collection as a comfortable cushion and as a decorative stand made of glossy stainless steel. The collection also includes a mirrored display stand inspired by the shape of the D-pad, designed to showcase the controller from any angle, alongside figurines and other objects.
The stool inspired by the thumbstick takes the concept even further. Developed together with XBOX device designers based on the controller’s original 3D design files, it turns an element normally controlled with the thumb into an object you can sit on. Even the grippy texture has been reinterpreted, giving the stool extra stability.
“25 years ago I stood in line all night to get my hands on the first XBOX console, so these shapes also carry a nostalgic element for me. The challenge was to turn them into a functional stool, with the right shape and stability, while keeping the characteristics of a thumbstick. And it actually moves like one, tilting along with you as you play,” says David Wahl, Designer, IKEA of Sweden.
Each product in the collection is designed to blend naturally into the home environment, alongside other pieces of furniture. Straight lines and rounded shapes, in understated tones of white, black, and beige, preserve the simplicity characteristic of Scandinavian design, while green accents highlight the pockets, holders, and compartments dedicated to storing gaming equipment.
