American tennis shoe brand K-Swiss and the Immortals esports franchise announced plans on Friday for a pair of sneakers, both a lifestyle shoe in the leisurewear category and also — wait for it — “a technical performance model” designed for professional gamers.
While the proposition of specifically engineered footwear for a sedentary activity may seem dubious on face value, that shoe is only one piece of a broader partnership; esports has a rich sneaker culture, and there are particular needs that arise when gaming for 10 or more hours per day. And, don’t worry, even a top Immortals executive understands the “curiosity and even skepticism” around crafting a performance sneaker for esports athletes.