IKEA and Xbox unveil nine-piece gaming furniture collection at Gamescom

According to TechRadar's James Pickard, who examined the collection at Gamescom, the most absurd item is the thumbstick stool, though it is surprisingly comfortable. He also noted the D-pad cushion, a lounge chair, a moveable TV stand with cable management, a multifunctional side table, a disguised laptop stand with storage, a handy monitor stand, a shiny platter, and a controller display box.

Pickard said that while he wouldn't sit on the stool for hours of gaming, its presence makes sense because the stool and cushion are immediate Xbox icons. As a self-described "boring man in his late thirties," he found the organizational products more exciting, particularly the monitor stand, which raises dual screens to eye level and offers hooks and hideaways for chargers, controllers, and cables, with space for a console.

The side table also impressed him, offering elegant storage for controllers and headsets, with space for a charger and USB cables, all hidden behind sliding doors and mounted on castors.

Philip Dilé, Product Design Developer at IKEA of Sweden, said in a statement: "We set out to make furniture people really want in their home, not furniture they accept because it is what you need to game." Every item was developed with continuous collaboration between IKEA and Xbox representatives to ensure both style and function.

The collection launches later this year from October 1.