Chelsea Football Club takes inspiration from the Game Boy for a big announcement

Video games are the most popular form of entertainment nowadays, and football is also at the top as the sport that moves the world. It's no secret that the most successful sports franchise in gaming is the now-defunct FIFA, and over the years, the worlds of gaming and football have joined forces. This time, a video sparked excitement about a supposed collaboration at the highest level, but it may not be what people think.

Will Chelsea and Nintendo join forces? Not quite

Earlier today, a video surfaced on the official Chelsea F.C. social media accounts, showcasing a Game Boy and a cartridge of the portable version of Mario Golf. The video contains a message referring to a return to the 90s, and for a moment, fans thought it could be an imminent sponsorship from the Japanese company, envisioning the next season's kit with the Nintendo logo on the chest.

A 90's throwback... pic.twitter.com/38RXdbwxTv

— JP (@Reaper8866) July 6, 2023

How Chelsea’s 2023/24 home kit could look with Nintendo as the sponsor🕹️🔵

Would you like to see Nintendo as our new sponsor?⬇️ pic.twitter.com/eKMgiUA4rY

— Vᴅʏᴋ (@VdykCFC) July 6, 2023

However, it is almost certain that it is not a sponsorship or a direct relationship between Chelsea F.C. and Nintendo. The first detail to consider is that the Game Boy and the Mario Golf cartridge have undergone some changes to prevent any legal disputes with the Japanese company, which is especially noticeable in the black buttons on the console and the blurry appearance of their logos.

Furthermore, in the background, the Chelsea F.C. crest is shown along with the logo of the sportswear brand Nike, the current sponsor and responsible for the team's uniforms, indicating that Nintendo's products are just a mere reference. What could it mean? It is likely that one of the London team's jerseys will have a retro touch and be inspired by the kit worn in the late 90s. In fact, a Twitter user pointed out that it could be a new version of the uniform Chelsea wore from 1997 to 1999, noting that Mario Golf debuted in that same year.

Stay tuned, here at LEVEL UP.