Character Choose
Welcome to Character Choose, a weekly column the place PC Gamer takes a take a look at the artwork and cosplay created by you. Every week, I will spotlight just a few of my favorite items, highlight and interview creators and artists, or usually simply chew your ear off in regards to the abilities of the gaming group.
I’ve all the time deeply admired cosplayers. I will always remember attending Ultimate Fantasy 14’s Fan Fest again in 2023 and being completely star struck by how folks had so superbly introduced their Warriors of Mild to life—towered over by bunny women with carefully-constructed ears and replicated job gear, and wishing I used to be additionally representing my Viera in the actual world.
Sadly I suck at arts and crafts, do not have some huge cash to get another person to do it, and I am simply… effectively, a bit shy. It may be a reasonably weak factor, placing your self on the market within the hot-glued footwear of a fictional character. But it surely’s additionally a technique to show your love for a bit of media, your love for the craft, and for the characters we develop into so deeply connected to. I’ve solely ever been courageous sufficient to cosplay as soon as in my life, at 17-years-old in a reasonably cheap-looking match I would scooped up from a UK-based anime retailer.
However I am additionally the kind of one that needs to point out the world the issues I like. I would like folks to know my pursuits! The second-best manner to do this which is not parading round in a hairsprayed-to-hell wig that most likely doubles as a hearth hazard? Carrying merch, in fact. My drawback? Videogame merch has all the time been kinda unhealthy.
Properly, it was for a really very long time anyway. I distinctly bear in mind circling round conventions and it all the time being the identical rattling factor. Gildan t-shirts with prints of various high quality. Even the official merch was the precise freaking identical! It is one thing I used to be very happy to do as an adolescent, however as I’ve gotten older and actually honed in on my sense of favor (which is, usually, not sporting ill-fitting tees) I’ve yearned for extra modern methods to point out off the factor I really like extra on the earth.
Are we completely there but? Hmm, no. I do not assume so. These commonplace match t-shirts are nonetheless rife throughout artist alleys, official merch shops, and budget-brand clothes retailers peddling each license they will get their palms on. It is annoying as a result of a few of them sport depraved cool designs, too—considered one of my favorite items of videogame merch remains to be my metalesque Hades tee from Ultimate Fantasy 14, however I hardly ever put on it as a result of, once more, I look naff in a tee.
However. However! It is getting so a lot better, and it makes me really feel all giddy inside. Most of that’s because of collaborations with manufacturers who can do a lot better than the clothes part of yer ma’s grocery store from down the highway. Kara’s written about a few of them for this very column prior to now: Minecraft’s collaboration with Very Cool, and Regular Palms—the maker of extremely cool videogame gear—just lately placing out a Sonic collaboration that has me ecstatically ready till payday so I can scoop up the Shadow the Hedgehog cardigan.
To not harp on an excessive amount of about Sonic, however 2025 actually was a very good yr for its merch. It partnered with Timberland for some slick themed colourways, and it took all of my energy to not rip my pal’s Sonic x Puma racer shirt off his again and run away with it. They’re simply two collaborations that completely toe the road of reasonably priced and fashionably nerdy, and I am determined for extra manufacturers and videogames to get in on the enjoyable.
Insert Coin has lengthy dabbled in some barely much less conventional clothes, which I’ve all the time appreciated. Do I really like a bomber jacket? Hardly ever, however I am glad to see them getting made regardless. It did do a correct Persona 5 Shujin Academy blazer although, which I most undoubtedly rated.
You’ve got even obtained locations like ZA/UM’s personal clothes model which has been peddling designer-priced items impressed by Disco Elysium for the previous couple of years. Why sure, that does embrace an almost-200 greenback plastic service bag, thanks for asking.
So right here you could have it, my plea to clothes manufacturers and videogames in every single place: As somebody too shy to cosplay, please make cooler merch so I can present how a lot I really like the stuff you make. Merch that does not require me to purchase a $200 bag I can nab for 20p at my native Tesco/Walmart/[insert local grocery store here]. Give me clothes! Cool denims! Extra sneakers! Jazzy tops that are not only a t-shirt! I could also be older, wiser, and extra modern than I as soon as was, however I do not love videogames any much less.
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