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 a number of of my favorite items, highlight and interview creators and artists, or usually simply chew your ear off concerning the skills of the gaming neighborhood.
I’ve at all times deeply admired cosplayers. I will always remember attending Remaining Fantasy 14’s Fan Fest again in 2023 and being completely star struck by how folks had so fantastically introduced their Warriors of Gentle 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 true world.
Sadly I suck at arts and crafts, haven’t got some huge cash to get another person to do it, and I am simply… nicely, a bit shy. It may be a quite weak factor, placing your self on the market within the hot-glued sneakers of a fictional character. Nevertheless it’s additionally a method to show your love for a bit of media, your love for the craft, and for the characters we grow to be so deeply hooked up to. I’ve solely ever been courageous sufficient to cosplay as soon as in my life, at 17-years-old in a quite 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 in all probability doubles as a fireplace hazard? Carrying merch, in fact. My downside? Videogame merch has at all times been kinda unhealthy.
Properly, it was for a really very long time anyway. I distinctly bear in mind circling round conventions and it at all times being the identical rattling factor. Gildan t-shirts with prints of various high quality. Even the official merch was the precise freaking similar! It is one thing I used to be very happy to do as a teen, however as I’ve gotten older and actually honed in on my sense of favor (which is, usually, not carrying ill-fitting tees) I’ve yearned for extra trendy methods to point out off the factor I really like extra on this planet.
Are we completely there but? Hmm, no. I do not assume so. These customary match t-shirts are nonetheless rife throughout artist alleys, official merch shops, and budget-brand clothes retailers peddling each license they will get their fingers 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 Remaining Fantasy 14, however I not often 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 Fingers—the maker of extremely cool videogame gear—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 12 months 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 inexpensive 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 at all times 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 acquired 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 provider bag, thanks for asking.
So right here you have got 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 attire! Cool denims! Extra sneakers! Jazzy tops that are not only a t-shirt! I could also be older, wiser, and extra trendy than I as soon as was, however I do not love videogames any much less.
