In the world of gaming, cosmetics often drive extraordinary behavior. A recent promotion for the brutal fighting game Invincible Vs has sparked a bizarre trend: fans across the country are ordering New York pizza—only to toss it out—just to unlock an exclusive in-game outfit. This phenomenon highlights the lengths players will go for digital rewards, even if it means wasting a perfectly good slice. Below, we break down the key questions behind this story.
What is the Invincible Vs pizza promotion?
The promotion is a collaboration between the developers of Invincible Vs and a well-known New York pizza chain. By purchasing a specific pizza from a participating NYC location, customers receive a unique code to redeem an exclusive cosmetic skin for the game. The offer is limited to physical stores in the New York area, meaning only local buyers can normally access the skin. However, the code is tied to the purchase, not the person, so anyone with a pizza can get it.
Why are people ordering pizza they don't intend to eat?
Players who live far from New York—some as far as California or Texas—are using food delivery apps like Uber Eats to place orders for delivery to their own addresses. The pizza arrives cold and often inedible after a long trip, but that doesn’t matter. The goal is simply to get the in-game cosmetic, a highly sought-after animated outfit for Invincible Vs. The desire for digital exclusivity and FOMO (fear of missing out) drives this wasteful behavior, as fans see the skin as a badge of dedication.
How can players outside New York get the skin?
To secure the skin remotely, a player must order the promotional pizza from a participating New York restaurant via a delivery service. They can either have it shipped to a friend in NYC (who then sends the code) or use a service that accepts out-of-area orders. Some players have even paid for the pizza but never picked it up, relying on the store to still provide the code. Reddit and Discord communities have shared step-by-step guides, but there is no official out-of-region method.
What are the costs involved in this stunt?
The minimum cost is about $15–$25 for a small pizza, plus delivery fees and tips. However, total expenses can exceed $50 if the order is sent far away or requires multiple attempts. For example, one player reported spending $35 on a large pizza plus $10 tip, only to have the code rejected because the store ran out of promo stickers. Add in the fact that the pizza is often thrown away, and the cost per cosmetic can be significant—yet many consider it a worthwhile expense for a limited item.
Is there any criticism about this trend?
Yes, the practice has drawn sharp criticism from food waste advocates and game ethics commentators. Ordering a pizza only to discard it contributes to unnecessary landfill waste and ignores rising concerns about sustainability. Some have called it “gross consumerism” and a waste of money. Others argue that the promotion itself is poorly designed, forcing non-local fans into unethical choices. On social media, hashtags like #PizzaGateGaming have emerged, mocking the trend. Despite the backlash, the promotion continues to sell out.
What are players saying about this in forums?
On platforms like Reddit and X, reactions are mixed. Some players boast about their “dedication” and share screenshots of their pizza orders alongside their new skins. Others express guilt but admit the skin is “too cool to pass up.” A common sentiment is “I hate wasting food, but this skin is fire.” Meanwhile, many non-players are baffled, with one tweet reading, “I can’t believe people are throwing away pizza for a virtual shirt. The world has gone mad.” The divide perfectly captures the tension between gaming passion and common sense.
How does this compare to other gaming promotion stunts?
This is not the first time gamers have gone to extremes for cosmetics. In 2018, Fortnite fans bought thousands of limited-edition Mountain Dew bottles just for an emote. More recently, Valorant tied a skin to purchasing an expensive energy drink. However, the Invincible Vs stunt is unique because involves perishable food that becomes waste. Past promotions often used non-food items or long-lasting snacks. The pizza angle adds a layer of irony and criticism that previous stunts largely avoided.