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Yes, the project is real—but the shoe does not contain an original Nintendo SNES motherboard. Singapore-based designer Gustavo Bonzanini created AIR SNES, a one-off Nike Air Max 90 modified with a Raspberry Pi Zero W running RetroPie, turning the sneaker into a functional SNES emulation system.
It can reportedly run SNES games and send video to a television, but it is not a self-contained handheld. The shoe has no built-in screen or game controls, and its reported battery life is only up to about 30 minutes.
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What is AIR SNES?
AIR SNES is Bonzanini’s custom Nike Air Max 90 project, created around the 35th anniversary of the Super Nintendo’s Japanese launch in 2025. The concept combines the gray-and-purple visual language of the SNES with the shape of a classic sneaker.
Coverage from Engadget describes it as a one-time creation. It is not an identified Nike-Nintendo collaboration, licensed retail product, or reported mass-production project.
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![Nintendo Super Entertainment System SNES Classic Edition with Two 6-ft. Extension Cable [video game]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/517MdbK-cqL._SL160_.jpg)
- Comes with 21 games pre-installed.
- Mini, classic edition. Will not play original SNES cartridges. Games come pre-installed on console.
What is actually inside the sneaker?
The core hardware is a Raspberry Pi Zero W, rather than original SNES electronics. The computer reportedly fits inside the shoe’s tongue, with other components integrated around the tongue and footbed.
- Raspberry Pi Zero W
- RetroPie emulation software
- A rechargeable battery
- HDMI video output
- Hardware for an analog RCA video connection
- Game storage, reportedly using a microSD card
The exact battery model, capacity, charging circuit, storage size, cooling arrangement, and internal wiring have not been documented in the available reports. Those missing details matter in a shoe, where electronics face flexing, pressure, sweat, dirt, and moisture.
It is an emulator, not an original SNES
The headline description is broadly accurate but technically loose. AIR SNES is a Raspberry Pi-based SNES emulator. RetroPie provides the software environment for running compatible emulators; the system does not read original SNES cartridges and does not recreate Nintendo’s original console hardware.
That distinction does not make the project fake. The engineering achievement is fitting a functioning modern computer, battery, ports, and related electronics into footwear while preserving the appearance of an SNES-inspired sneaker.
How do you play it?
The shoe is only the computer portion of the setup. A typical play session reportedly works like this:
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- From your first ride on Yoshi to the final heart-pounding escape from Planet Zebes, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System is pure 16-bit retro gaming perfection.
- Now a new, miniaturized version is here, pre-loaded with 21 of the all-time greatest games, like Super Mario Kart and the first-ever release of Star Fox 2! Just plug it in and play.
- Live out the golden age of 16-bit gaming like never before. Choose games from the menu, create save points, and more.
- The system comes bundled with an HDMI cable, an USB charging cable, two Super NES Classic Controllers, and 21 games, pre-installed and ready-to-play.
- “T” for Teen w/Mild Blood, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- SNES-compatible game software is loaded onto the Raspberry Pi.
- The sneaker is connected to a television or monitor through HDMI.
- The player uses an external controller.
- The battery powers the Pi and related electronics for a reported maximum of roughly 30 minutes.
Engadget reports compatibility with an original SNES controller and also mentions an 8BitDo Mod Kit option for wireless control. The exact adapter and wiring arrangement is not fully documented, so it is safer to describe the controller as an original-style pad connected through the project’s interface rather than assume a particular modification topology.
Some reports also describe analog RCA output, allowing the system to connect to older televisions or CRTs. The available coverage does not specify the converter model, resolution, latency, or signal standard.
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Reports mention or show familiar SNES titles including Super Mario World, Donkey Kong Country, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and Street Fighter II. These should be treated as games demonstrated or named in coverage, not as a confirmed bundled library.
The reports also do not document the licensing status of the game files or any BIOS used by the build. Emulation software is not automatically piracy, but downloading or distributing copyrighted ROMs without authorization can create legal problems. Readers should use game software obtained through lawful means in their jurisdiction; owning an original cartridge does not universally settle every question about downloading a matching ROM.
Why build a game console into a shoe?
Bonzanini’s stated concept connects sneaker culture, retro gaming, and the history of fashion-and-game collaborations. The project asks whether a sneaker that looks like a game console can also function as one.
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- Wide Compatibility – Designed to work seamlessly with the SNES Classic Mini, NES Classic Edition, NES Classic Mini, and Wii Remote Controllers, ensuring versatile use across multiple systems.
- Extended Reach – Each of the 2-pack extension cables measures 10ft (3M), giving you the freedom to sit back and play comfortably. Connect both cables for a combined 20ft (6M) length for even greater flexibility.
- Durable & High-Quality – Built with premium sturdy metal connectors and robust wiring for long-lasting performance, saving you money on frequent replacements.
- Plug & Play Convenience – Simply connect and start gaming! Supports dual-controller use simultaneously, allowing both players to enjoy a relaxed experience from a distance.
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Secondary coverage, including GameStar, links the design to the visual similarities between the Air Max 90 and the SNES, as well as Bonzanini’s interest in Street Fighter II. That specific origin story should be understood as secondary reporting rather than a fully documented technical brief from Nintendo or Nike.
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Is it really wearable?
The modified shoe remains a sneaker, and reports say the electronics were integrated into the tongue and footbed instead of replacing the entire shoe. But “wearable” should not be confused with “practical for everyday use.”
There is no independent testing in the available coverage for comfort, durability, heat, water resistance, electrical safety, or long-term reliability. The battery may add pressure or weight, while ports and cables could make walking awkward or damage the shoe’s electronics. HDMI-connected gaming still requires sitting near an external display, so the wearable quality is largely a design statement rather than a genuinely mobile gaming advantage.
How long does the battery last?
The reported figure is up to about 30 minutes of gameplay. This is a project- or media-reported estimate, not a standardized battery test. Actual runtime would depend on battery condition and capacity, display output, Bluetooth use, voltage conversion, emulation load, and other hardware choices.
The available reports do not identify the battery chemistry, charging method, charge time, or replacement procedure. AIR SNES should therefore be treated as a prototype enclosure—not as a shoe that is safe to charge, expose to water, or modify without understanding battery-management hardware.
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- OLD TIME MEMORY - The same looking of the original 90s for SNES console, smaller version
- 21 ORIGINAL 16BIT GAMES - Preload 21 classic for SNES games
- Plug & Play - Just plug and play. Includes two controllers
- PLAY ON HDTV - Connect the console to modern TV with HDMI cable. Games are upgraded to HD solution output.Better image quality than before
- SAVE&LOAD - You will replay your saved points with the built in Saving function
Can you buy one?
There is no reported retail release, official product page, or confirmed custom-order service. AIR SNES is described as a one-off creation, not a standard Nike or Nintendo product. Readers should not assume that either company sponsored, endorsed, or licensed it.
Bonzanini’s apparent first-party account, @bonzanini.design, may provide original photos, video, or later availability information, but the project should not be treated as commercially available without a current statement from the designer.
Could a maker build something similar?
A similar concept would require more than putting a Raspberry Pi in a shoe. At a high level, the build would need:
- A small Raspberry Pi computer, such as the original Zero W or a newer Zero 2 W
- An emulation environment such as RetroPie
- Legally obtained game software
- A properly protected battery and charging system
- Video output hardware and strain relief for the connectors
- A wired or Bluetooth controller
- Mechanical protection against flexing, compression, heat, and moisture
The Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W offers newer hardware, but it may draw more power and produce more heat than the Zero W used in AIR SNES. Inside footwear, safe power management and physical protection are more important than simply choosing the fastest board. Do not improvise lithium-battery wiring or charging circuitry without verified component specifications and appropriate safety knowledge.
For actual portable play, a conventional retro handheld is a much better solution because it includes a screen, controls, battery, and a purpose-built enclosure. A small Raspberry Pi console or an 8BitDo controller paired with an existing emulator device is also easier to cool, repair, and use.
The verdict
AIR SNES is a genuine and technically clever custom sneaker that functions as an SNES emulator. Its achievement is the extreme miniaturization and integration of modern electronics into a Nike Air Max 90—not the transplantation of an original Super Nintendo console into a shoe.
As wearable design, it is an inventive collision of sneaker and gaming nostalgia. As a gaming product, the external display, external controller, short battery life, uncertain durability, and one-off status make it far less practical than an ordinary retro console or handheld.
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