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Designer Turns Nike Air Max 90 Into Playable SNES-Style Sneaker

The one-off ‘Air SNES’ is a tongue-embedded Raspberry Pi build with no plans for sale.

Overview

  • Gustavo Bonzanini integrated a Raspberry Pi Zero W running RetroPie into the sneaker’s tongue to emulate 16-bit SNES titles.
  • Video output leaves the shoe via mini‑HDMI and is converted on board to analog RCA for authentic early‑’90s TV compatibility.
  • A classic SNES controller provides input after a wireless conversion using an 8BitDo Bluetooth mod kit.
  • A small battery inside the tongue powers roughly 30 minutes of play per charge, underscoring the project’s art‑piece nature.
  • The build debuts for the SNES 35th anniversary with a Super Famicom‑inspired color scheme, and commercialization faces significant licensing hurdles.