007 Goldeneye is one of the most popular and well-received games in the entire Nintendo 64 catalog, so it makes sense that it would be built for a collaboration. Nike is a brand known for pairing with different pop culture icons, including pop stars, actors, musicians, athletes, food and drink, and even gaming. Therefore, their pairing here seems like a match made in heaven, and the only shocking thing is that it took this long for the two entities to join forces.
Nike Adds Goldeneye to Video Game Portfolio
Nike has ventured into the video game collaboration scene in the past. However, they typically have not been mass produced, with the exception of non-official colorways inspired by Donkey Kong and Tomb Raider. In 2021, they partnered with PlayStation 5 to release one pair of collaborative sneakers. In 2020, the company partnered with Xbox to give away one Jordan-inspired Xbox One console and controller package. This time, Nike wanted to do more than a one-off and released a set amount of sneakers for pre-order.
These sneakers, as revealed by GQ, look incredible. The Nike Air Max 1 Low Poly ‘Big Head Mode’ sneakers are inspired by the cheat code the game built in that allowed you to play with an extra large headed James Bond. As described directly by GQ, the “Air Max 1 works on top of a breezy mesh base. Black leather overlays wrap around the sidewalls and mudguard (riffing on the British super spy’s tux), and gold accents pay tribute to the N64 game’s most powerful and mythical weapon: the Golden Gun. Around the heel, the usual ‘Nike Air’ branding is now surrounded by a red health bar and blue armor bar.”
A Lot To Love
There is a lot to love about this sneaker collaboration. Making the shoes evoke the pixelated nostalgia is a nice touch, and the colorways are as beautiful as they are tasteful; there is no need for over-the-top coloring. Sticking to the classic just works here. The shoes went on sale on April 7 for $160 via the Nike SNKRS app and were already completely sold out 3 days later. With a new 007 video game announced in the works, currently titled Project 007, the timing is perfect to keep the franchise at the forefront of pop culture and sneakerheads’ minds.
Final Thoughts
These sneakers hit every note necessary. They both look good and bring the nostalgic essence of the critically loved Goldeneye shooter. The famous shoe company often collaborates well, and this entry is no different. Even though the sneakers sold out almost immediately, the appeal and market are there. Should they decide to produce more at a later date, the consumers will run to grab a pair. The historic pairing will be among the best-rated sneaker drops of the year and possibly even more.
