The two companies have put out a fresh set of chairs and stands made for people who play games, and the smart part is that some of it hardly looks like furniture built for playing games at all. The YXSTABY collection goes on sale Oct. 1, with nine new items created together by the groups at IKEA and Xbox. It runs from a stand for the screen on wheels to a seat shaped like a large stick found on an Xbox control box. What sets it apart is how much players can decide whether the gaming references show up plainly in their sitting room or stay quiet.
The Name Behind the Collection
The name YXSTABY comes from a small place in Sweden, according to an IKEA spokesperson who talked to Mashable. It was picked because the four letters show up on the Xbox controller’s buttons: X, Y, B, and A. The partnership was introduced at Gamescom in August, when all nine items were shown together for the first time.
Most of the range is already on sale in stores, with online availability still rolling out. IKEA will stock the line for a time, though not every item will stay in stock indefinitely. A representative confirmed that the YXSTABY Gaming thumb stick stool will only be available for a year, which means customers should act quickly if they want to get their hands on it.
The D-pad Platter That Hides Its Purpose
The YXSTABY Gaming D-pad controller platter stands out among the selection, and its design is subtle enough that it doesn’t immediately read as gaming-related. Built to hold remote controls and gaming controllers, it can also serve as a dedicated tabletop surface for other objects, such as fruit. However, the reflective stainless steel material picks up fingerprints very easily, so it’s best used for purposes that don’t require too much handling.
The design choice here is clever. A platter shaped like a video game controller can rest on a coffee table without drawing attention to its origin. Place a phone or keys on it instead of a controller, and nobody has to guess it was built for a gaming partnership.
The X-Shaped Cushion That Works Surprisingly Well
The collection also includes a surprising green Gaming D-pad cushion shaped like an X. Its shape and colour might make it hard to work into your home’s decor, yet Mashable’s first impressions are that it’s unexpected usefulness is worth noting. The X design serves a practical purpose: it makes the cushion comfortable to hug and provides an excellent spot for your arms to rest on. Whether you’re gaming, relaxing, or dealing with arm pain, the cushion has something to offer.
One relative reported that the Gaming D-pad cushion helped ease arm pain right away, which made them want to get their own. That kind of personal story carries more weight than any sales pitch, since it shows the product actually works. Comfort during gaming sessions is something real, not just a clever idea.
The Lounge Chair Built From Steel
Among the items in the collection is the YXSTABY Gaming lounge chair, which resembles IKEA’s well-known POÄNG armchair in its design. However, the Xbox partnership replaces the wood veneer with galvanised steel rods for the chair’s construction. It also comes with Xbox green stitching, and there is a mesh pocket underneath the seat where controllers can be stored.
The feeling of sitting down on the chair is the real measure of how well it works. That’s why details about comfort matter more than any showroom display, and Mashable’s brief testing during an IKEA event found that yes, if you pay attention you can feel stored items through the polyester padding when sitting on the chair, though fortunately it doesn’t make that point clear.
The Products You Can Still Buy
Not all the products will be available for long. The YXSTABY Gaming thumb stick stool will only be available for a year, so it’s a good idea to pick it up soon if you’re interested. IKEA’s spokesperson told Mashable that the collection will be carried for a while, and the company has plans to expand its gaming-related offerings further.
| Product | Availability |
|---|---|
| YXSTABY collection (in store) | Oct. 1 |
| YXSTABY collection (online U.S.) | Nov. 30 |
| YXSTABY Gaming thumb stick stool | Ending in a year |
Where to Find It
IKEA’s YXSTABY collection hits stores on Oct. 1, with online access following in the U.S. from Nov. 30. Where it can be bought depends on where you live, though Australians already have it both in person and through the web.
Our View of the Collection
The items in the YXSTABY line are useful rather than loud about it, which is precisely what makes them work. The standout pieces are those that appear to be regular furniture until you notice their design touches — the D-pad platter, the cushion, the lounge chair with its mesh pocket. These are the goods that win because they perform a genuine job before they read as gaming equipment at all.
The collection is a smart way to bring gaming into your home without making it look like you’ve turned your living room into a shrine to consoles. It’s a reminder that furniture can be useful and stylish at the same time, and that a collaboration between a furniture store and a video game maker doesn’t have to end in something that looks like a prop from a movie.
Now on sale, the YXSTABY collection includes items designed to ease everyday discomfort: a cushion meant to alleviate arm pain, a platter built to hold fruit, and a chair equipped with a mesh pocket. These small touches are what set this furniture lineup apart.
Source material: “IKEA and Xboxs YXSTABY gaming furniture is functional without being in your face,” Mashable.
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