XBOY: the Genesis of SoftwareBoy’s 3D Character – Between Intuition, Digital Art, and Physical Design

The story of XBOY wasn't born from a precise plan, but from a spontaneous moment of creative intuition during a period when everything seemed suspended. In the midst of online classes and discovering 3D on Blender, a simple technical exercise—the repeated placement of primitive meshes—transformed, almost unintentionally, into the origin of a character. A seemingly random gesture, driven more by curiosity than by a defined intention, gave life to a form. But that form, over time, became much more: a means to explore oneself, to refine an aesthetic, and to build a recognizable visual identity.

The first XBOY (later named X-0 GENESIS) was the first 3D printed toy in Italy in 2019, marking the beginning of the series and the first original piece: the genesis of the collection. Number Zero. Originally produced in a chrome color, it was later re-released in a slightly satinated version for its appearance as an NFT. From there, the true collection was born: X-1 was the first NFT of the series, marking the start of the large-scale project. X-0, however, is not part of the collection on OpenSea, as it was originally dropped on Rarible, the first marketplace used by SoftwareBoy.

The idea of developing a true NFT collection came after his first trip to New York, where Niccolò developed a broader vision of the artistic and cultural potential of his work. During his second stay in the metropolis a year later, he spent entire days on his computer at the hostel, modeling new digital XBOYs and transforming that initial intuition into a true artistic series. The experience of Sushi Swag NFT, the previous project realized with his English partner Andre, had already ignited the spark: together they dropped sneakers and physical products via NFTs, and their first video was resold for $150,000.

From that point on, a new XBOY was published every Wednesday afternoon, making the collection one of the largest in Italy. Every model was different, but all maintained the same core visual identity. Unfortunately, the series was interrupted with the drop of X-26 RINKU, inspired by Link from The Legend of Zelda, due to the general collapse of the NFT market. Until that moment, however, XBOYs would sell out in minutes, or at most in a few hours.

X-27 is the first XBOY not released as an NFT, but dropped only as a “Dimensional” in the physical collection (it is not the first Dimensional). From this number onward, XBOYs will no longer be solely digital but entirely tangible: physical sculptures of about 30-35 cm, each with a certificate of authenticity and packaged in a custom wooden box with custom-cut interior foam and a laser engraving for each edition. The Dimensional series is currently in production based on scattered orders, selecting the most popular from the digital collection, with no precise sequence. Some models are produced in Italy, others in Japan, but future production may move to China once the prototyping phase is complete.

This new phase, named XBOY Dimensional, represents Niccolò's desire to bring his digital universe into the real world, fusing art, design, and contemporary manufacturing. Each sculpture is a physical translation of his visual language, a symbol of his journey and his artistic identity. With XBOY, Niccolò has not only created a character but has built a bridge between the digital and the material, between intuition and form, between the spontaneous gesture and the realized vision. Thus laying the foundation for a personal, open, and continuously transforming visual language. A symbol that speaks the language of pop culture, but also of experimentation, artistic freedom, and the new digital craftsmanship.

XBOYS: https://opensea.io/collection/xboys

XBOY · SoftwareBoy · Digital Art · 3D Printing · Pop Design · NFT Collection