Anime and video game-themed sneakers aren't a new thing, but 2024 has been a better year for them than usual so far. Mayla, a brand famed for its gaming collaborations, now wants a piece of that particular pie. Teasing its team-up last week, and sharing more images on its site over the weekend, Mayla has revealed it has been working with Square Enix to create some unique Nier: Automata shoes, and they're quite a bit different from any other video game footwear you've seen already this year.
The biggest difference between Mayla's Nier: Automata shoes and every other video game footwear collab this year is that these aren't sneakers. They're a pair of high-heeled shoes that were first shown in an otherwise non-descript image to the untrained eye. However, as noted by Siliconera, the block on which the shoes are sitting and the backdrop behind them will instantly set off alarm bells in the heads of Nier: Automata fans.
Once you realize what exactly Mayla is teasing, you start picking up on the fact every aspect of the shoes' design is inspired by Automata's protagonist, 2B. Not just because they're black and white, but the triangular design on the front of each shoe looks like it has been modeled after the way 2B's black visor is framed by her bright white fringe. Nier: Automata is printed on the inside of each shoe, and the nods to the game are continued via a pattern on the soles.
Mayla Turns 2B Into Two Shoes
The design also includes Mayla's signature bow on the back of each shoe. You'll find similarly designed bows on the back of Mayla's Attack on Titan and Evangelion shoes. It's also very likely you'll like those designs if you like the Nier: Automata shoes. Needless to say, Mayla definitely has a type. While the shoes have a store page, how much they'll cost and when they'll be released hasn't been revealed. It's also possible Mayla reveals there's more to this collab as it typically creates perfumes and accessories for its crossovers.
Nier: Automata joins a growing range of video game and anime footwear released in 2024. PlayStation teamed up with Puma for sneakers that resemble your PS5, Puma also released a One Piece range to celebrate the anime's anniversary, and Reebok created X-Men '97 shoes modeled after Wolverine and Gambit. Lots of officially licensed shoes to choose from, and something very different now entering the fray thanks to Mayla's Nier: Automata footwear.
