Nike Officially Announces Its ‘Yu-Gi-Oh!’ Air Max 95s — Here’s How to Get Them

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After a steady ramp-up of teases and leaks, Nike is now pulling back the curtain on its highly anticipated “Yu-Gi-Oh!” collaboration.

The “Yu-Gi-Oh!” x Nike Air Max 95 will feature in two colorways, one of which launches globally and will be followed later by an edition exclusive to Japan. Only the blue “Joey” colorway had leaked prior, and the announcement gives the first look at the gray “Jonouchi” variant, which will be released only in Japan.

As the more colorful sneaker in the duo, the Air Max 95 “Joey” is primarily made up of a mix of blues and includes faux-scuffs on its midsole. “Neon” green detailing is used for the “Air Muscle” tongue branding and visible Air Max units, while a graphic of Red-Eyes black dragon is printed on the insole. Within the translucent bubble of the outsole, you’ll also find a “Yu-Gi-Oh!” logo.

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The Air Max 95 “Jonouchi” opts for grayscale with its own embellished scuffs on a black midsole. It, too, features “Air Muscle” branding on the tongue rather than the usual “Air Max” mark, and its Red-Eyes black dragon insole is rendered without color outside of the red in the “Yu-Gi-Oh!” logo on one shoe to go with Jonouchi on another. Co-branded text for the two parties is also printed on the rear of the heel Air Max unit on both editions.

“Yu-Gi-Oh!” x Nike Air Max 95 “Joey” Shoe

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Both sneakers come in special packaging, including the official playable trading cards from Konami that had been previewed at San Diego Comic-Con.

Both sneakers call back to a 1997 “Yu-Gi-Oh!” manga issue with a story centered upon an Air Max 95 “Neon” duplicate dubbed the “Air Muscle.” In it, Jonouchi (known as “Joey” in English translations) is scammed by a shoe shop owner who sold him the sneakers and paid a group of thugs to steal them back from him and sell them once again. Dark Yugi confronts the owner on behalf of Jonouchi and wins back the sneakers in a game.

The “Yu-Gi-Oh!” x Nike Air Max 95 “Joey” will release September 12 through the Snkrs app. The “Yu-Gi-Oh!” x Nike Air Max 95 “Jonouchi” will then follow later in the month, exclusively in Japan. Pricing for both sneakers is set at $200.