Everything You Need To Know About Balenciaga’s New Video Game Collection.
Image Credit: Balenciaga
Balenciaga today have released their video game ‘Afterworld: The Age of Tomorrow’, an allegorical adventure, available for everyone to play. The game sees you pick amongst a sleuth of Balenciaga models, which have been digitally scanned from a studio in Paris and transformed into gaming avatars. The game is set in a dystopian world, ten years into the future, as you explore an abandoned Balenciaga store, a magic forest and an illegal rave. Drawing inspiration from the global pandemic, the game combines the themes of escapism and surrealism.
The game itself is a remarkable first attempt from a fashion house. To make ‘Afterworld: The Age of Tomorrow’ Creative Director Demna Gvasalia tapped into Unreal Engine; the game engine for Epic Games, responsible for creating Fortnite and Gears of War.
The game itself can be a little janky at times, especially on desktop, but there is no doubt how impressive it is visually. The background for this game dates back to April and required a team of around 100 to create it. The scanning of the models, who are adorned in both new and old collections, is what took the longest.
In regards to the looks, the Balenciaga 2021 collection features slight changes to iconic pieces from Gvasalia’s tenure, including oversized suiting, dad caps and knee-high boots. This time, the knee-high boots have been transformed into knight-like sabatons, a reference to Joan of Arc’s character in the game. Additionally, the collection features a long oversized hooded robe, as though one of an old wizard or mage. The collection is half King Arthur and half Marilyn Manson.
The focus on fashion being an escape is a timely message from Balenciaga, and their continued defiance to conform to traditional methods is what sets them apart from others going into 2021.
Check out ‘Afterworld: The Age of Tomorrow’ here.
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