Shoes that have lead to software being developed to purchase all available inventory as fast as possible.

See exhibits A: https://www.nikeshoebot.com/ B: https://ganeshbot.com/ C:https://cybersole.io/

And there's a lot more out there

... thought Reebok and Adidas.

Top soccer cleats cost $250+. At that price point user expect some innovation (material wise), and not just simple sneakers.

Nike has been outcompeting Adidas/Reebok/Puma and others.

Ps. You can buy cheap soccer cleats at $40-50 price point. They are good just for casual users, but for semi-serious players, they just don't cut it as they tend to have inferior materials, and tend to be heavy and not good for people that want some edge.

Especially if you are an older player (35+ yo), the lighter shoes make a huge difference.