What Do Pixels Taste Like? Coca-Cola’s Next Out-of-the-Box Flavor is Coming Soon!
Coca-Cola’s newest creative twist on their classic soda is on the way, and this time, its flavor might be even more abstract than before... The Atlanta-based beverage giant made a splash in February with the launch of the limited-edition Coca-Cola Starlight, an “intergalactic” spin on the soda with “a reddish hue and cooling taste sensation evoking the feeling of a journey to space.” Coke continues this trend of mysterious flavor descriptions with the newly introduced Coca-Cola Byte, which “tastes like pixels” and has a “bright, upfront taste reminiscent of powering up a game and a refreshing finish that makes for a perfect gaming companion.”
Coca-Cola Byte will be available in regular and Zero Sugar versions and is set to hit U.S. shelves (and coolers) on May 2. It’s the second unconventional flavor to roll out as part of the brand’s new Coca-Cola Creations campaign of limited time offer (LTO) drinks geared toward Gen Z and social media users. The company says Byte is its first-ever flavor to be “born in the metaverse” and is marketing the drink toward gaming enthusiasts with an interactive experience called “Pixel Point” that’s available to play within the popular video game Fortnite.
“For our second expression from Coca-Cola Creations, we wanted to create an innovative taste inspired by the playfulness of pixels, rooted in the experiences that gaming makes possible,” said Oana Vlad, Senior Director, Global Strategy, The Coca-Cola Company. “Just as pixels power digital connection, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Byte brings people together to share moments of Real Magic.”
What Coca-Cola Byte actually tastes like will likely remain a mystery until its May 2 launch, but even then, there could still be debate. When Coca-Cola Starlight was first released, social media users posted differing opinions. Some reported hints of cherry or cotton candy while others said the flavor had notes of s’mores or mint.
No matter what it tastes like, Coca-Cola Byte and Zero Sugar Byte will both be available in cans and bottles and will feature an 8-bit version of the iconic Coke logo. Time will tell how the Atlanta company’s new campaign of eccentric flavors and limited time offer strategies will pay off, but we can expect more interactive experiences and trendy campaigns from Coca-Cola throughout 2022.
