Category Archives: Video Games

Among Us builds global licensing network with Tycoon in LatAm and SkyBrands across Europe

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Innersloth’s gaming phenomenon, Among Us is expanding its international reach with a slew of new global licensing announcements, spearheaded by the appointment of Tycoon Enterprises as its licensing agent across Latin America.

Among Us took the world by storm when it hit half a billion unique monthly players last November, rocketing the multi-player mobile game to the top spot of the download charts and securing the title two awards – Best Multi-Player and Best Mobile Game – at the 2020 Game Awards.

Combining social gameplay with horror-humour, the game recently launched on Nintendo Switch and is set to bow on Xbox this year.

The new deal grants Tycoon wide merchandising and promotional rights as it looks to secure partners across the Latin American market.

“Fans of the game have shown us, through the engagement with the IP, that they are excited for us to take the crewmates to new worlds, and to grow our brand into other mediums beyond gaming,” said Rowan Rowden, co-founder of Dual Wield Studio

“And it is all about them.”

Outside of the US, the Mexican and Brazilian markets have amassed the largest player bases, ranking number one and two on Facebook, followed by Colombia, Argentina, and Peru. Views and likes on TikTok and Twitch proliferate across the region.

“This is probably one of the most anticipated and sought-after branded programs ever, and the level of interest shown by the licensee and Retail community in Among Us is incredibly high,” said Dalia Benbassat, head of corporate relations at Tycoon.

“This kind of excitement comes like a breath of fresh air for the entire industry and reminds us of the important role that brands play in the path to recovery. We are delighted to be part of the Among Us Crew and look forward to the launch of our first lines of merchandise.”

Meanwhile, in Europe, Innersloth has tapped SkyBrands to develop a portfolio of products across apparel and home textiles based on the Among Us IP. The partnership will witness the launch of the gaming brand into the fashion and textile market across Europe.

‘The demand for official quality products with Among Us is huge and in close collaboration with the team behind Among Us, SkyBrands can now develop and deliver products with apparel and home textiles,’ read a statement from the company.

‘If you’re ready to hear more about the great possibilities for your shop or brand, then do not hesitate to contact SkyBrands.’

Lisle Licensing lands slate of new partners for video gaming’s iconic Tetris brand

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Lisle Licensing has detailed a slate of new partners and product launches for the iconic puzzle game Tetris, as the nearly 40 year old brand continues to celebrate an expanding fan-base driven by global consumer success.

Kicking off the year like so many of us did, Tetris got straight into the fitness scene through an athleisure apparel collaboration with the tikiboo.co.uk. More recently, Trademark Productions has signed to develop an apparel daywear range that will land on shelves this autumn/winter.

In line with the brand’s bold colours, Trademark Products will focus on soft lines which appeal to the Tetris fanbase who want to embrace their support for the brand beyond traditional gameplay. Meanwhile, Fizz Creations will launch a Tetris AW 21 giftware range that will include a Tetris Tetrimino waffle maker that creates waffles in the game’s iconic shapes. 

In the gaming space, John Adams – a long-standing UK board game licensee of the Tetris brand – has renewed its agreement with the brand for a further three years.

Francesca Lisle, MD at Lisle Licensing, said: “As the video gaming industry continues to surge, and particularly retro gaming, so does the popularity of Tetris which will celebrate its 40th year in 2024. We are delighted to kick-off 2021 with two new licensees in categories which will further strengthen the brand’s position in the UK, as well as continue the Tetris partnership with John Adams.”

Zoe Ryan, marketing manager at Fizz Creations, added: “We’re all about fun and novelty at Fizz Creations, so are excited to partner with Tetris to launch the waffle maker – Tetrimino shaped waffles… what’s not to love?”

The Tetris brand is recognised as one of the leading and most distinctive video game brands and franchises in the world. Now after more than 35 years, the brand continues to be enjoyed by audiences of all ages and all cultures. Billions of Tetris games are played online every year, and over 500 million Tetris mobile games have been downloaded to date.

The Tetris brand’s global licensee network includes major video game publishers, including Nintendo and SEGA, as well as many partners in electronics, toys, apparel, lifestyle goods, entertainment and more. 

Mattel teams with game developer Milestone to launch Hot Wheels Unleashed across PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and PC

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Mattel has partnered with the global racing game developer, Milestone, to launch Hot Wheels Unleashed, an arcade-style racing game scheduled to launch across PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

The new title will see players drift, boost, jump, and crash on Hot Wheels’ recognisable orange tracks in various single player game modes. Gamers can also challenge friends in multiplayer races, both online and offline.

“We continue to focus on engaging consumers with our brands through gaming platforms,” said Andrew Chan, head of digital gaming, Mattel. “Hot Wheels is all about encouraging the challenger spirit and Hot Wheels Unleashed brings that mission to life for gamers of all ages.

“Milestone’s expertise in racing game development has enabled us to transform the Hot Wheels brand into a compelling console and PC gaming experience for both current Hot Wheels fans and gamers who may be rediscovering the iconic brand.”

Michele Caletti, executive producer at Milestone, added: “Like many other team members who worked on the game, I’ve been playing with Hot Wheels since I was a child, and today I’m still a hungry Hot Wheels fan and collector.

“This is the reason why we’re all so committed in delivering the purest and most authentic Hot Wheels gameplay experience ever in a videogame. We owe it to the Hot Wheels community and to our inner children.”

Hot Wheels Unleashed offers players the opportunity to drive the cars as if they were playing with the die-cast toys. The gameplay includes adrenaline-filled races, an extended choice of Hot Wheels vehicles with different attributes and rarity levels that players can customize with different skins.

Tracks in the game are also set within everyday life locations, with special track pieces and interactive items. The game also features a Track Editor, enabling players to customize tracks in any game environment and share them with the game’s community.

Hot Wheels Singles assortment was recently recognized as the 2020 Global Top-Selling Toy of the Year, according to the NPD Group. Fans can experience the brand, which originally debuted in 1968, through toys, consumer products, content, and both virtual and live events.

Mattel and Milestone are introducing a variety of different versions of Hot Wheels Unleashed globally.

Asmodee’s fiction book division Aconyte partners with Ubisoft for Assassin’s Creed novel trilogy

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Aconyte, the fiction imprint of the global games group, Asmodee, has partnered with the international video games company Ubisoft to publish a new Assassin’s Creed trilogy of novels, beginning this summer.

Set in 16th Century China, the new series will kick off with the title The Ming Storm and will follow the central character Shao Jun, a young assassin and already a fan-favourite from the franchise as the protagonist of the Assassin’s Creed: China video game.

Following the elimination of the Chinese Brotherhood by the rival Templars, Shao Jun must travel to Europe to train with the legendary Ezio Auditore, before she returns to exact revenge.

Written by bestselling Chinese author Yan Leisheng, the novel has recently been published in his homeland as well as France, with a Russian edition imminent. The Ming Storm will be published in the US and Canada on June 1st 2021 and on July 8th in the UK. The book will be available in paperback and ebook formats, with an audiobook version expected to follow shortly after.

“When we started out on this project for the Chinese fans of Assassin’s Creed, we wanted to create something that would feel meaningful and engaging to them. We worked hard finding the author who would understand both our franchise and how to tell a compelling story that would resonate with the audience,” said Aymar Azaizia, transmedia and business development director at Ubisoft.

“We are really proud to be able to bring this original trilogy to English readers worldwide through Aconyte. Although the content is not set in the continuity of the main storyline, you will find a great authentic Assassin’s Creed story. Enjoy the ride.”

At the end of 2020, Aconyte was announced as Ubisoft’s go-to fiction partner for novels for adult readers, to create new adventures from unexplored corners of the worlds of popular games like Watch Dogs, Tom Clancy’s The Division, Beyond Good & Evil and more.

More announcements are expected as Aconyte’s range of compelling tie-in fiction expands further.

Bullseye scores Nintendo and PlayStation games deal with digital developer Sabec

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The video games developer, Sabec, has signed a new partnership with Bulldog Licensing to create a series of digital games for download across the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation, based in the British gameshow, Bullseye.

Sabec is considered a leader in its field of developing games for licensed brands and its own IP, having worked with leading global entertainment brands like Hasbro, MTV, and Wiley Publishing as an approved Nintendo, PlayStation, Microsoft XBox, Apple, Roku, Samsung, Oculus, and Google developer.

Bullseye, meanwhile, is a much-loved British gameshow that first made its appearance in 1981 to reach is peak audience figures of 19.8 million on Boxing Day 1989. Now celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the brand continues to hold a place in the hearts of the British public. In fact, when Sky Challenge relaunched the gameshow in 2006, it quickly became the channel’s top rating show.

Bulldog Licensing’s consumer products programme for the brand features an internet scratch card game from Camelot, and a spot on Cosmic Concept’s pub quizzes. The agency has been working closely with licensees to create strong collections of apparel and leisurewear, toys and games, and housewares.

“Bullseye is the perfect fit for digital gaming,” said Rob Corney, MD, Bulldog Licensing. “The show’s format is loved nationwide and is a firm family favourite, so we’re thrilled to have Sabec on board to bring the experience into people’s homes with innovative gaming concepts.”

Trudi Hayward, co-founder of BRAND-WARD Services Ltd, who brokered the deal, speaking on behalf of Sabec, said that Bullseye is a perfect fit for Sabec and console games, because darts is becoming increasingly more popular.

“Bullseye has such heritage in the UK, we know the game will be a sure fire hit, not just the fans that remember Bullseye but the younger generation who enjoy darts too,” she said.

Zynga and Lucasfilm announce Star Wars: Hunters for Nintendo Switch and mobile

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The mobile gaming goliath, Zynga is making its first move into the console arena, having been unveiled as the newest partner for Lucasfilm’s renewed, post-EA push into the video games space.

In a virtual event hosted by Nintendo this week, details of a new Star Wars console game for the Nintendo Switch were finally announced, with Zynga taking the lead on the cross-platform title and its own first steps in the previously unexplored segment.

Under the new partnership with Lucasfilm and Nintendo, Zynga will launch the free-to-play Star Wars: Hunters across the Switch console and mobile platforms. The deal is yet another development for the Star Wars franchise and its activity in the gaming market, following the recent news that Lucasfilm’s exclusivity deal with EA for console games would not be renewed.

During this week’s Nintendo Direct, a virtual event in which the video games company detailed a swathe of upcoming releases, Star Wars: Hunters was described as “a competitive arena combat game… coming in 2021.

“Star Wars: Hunters will bring players together to engage in thrilling, squad based, multiplayer battles featuring a diverse array of distinctive new Star Wars characters.”

Bernard Kim, president of publishing at Zynga, said: “Bringing Star Wars: Hunters to the Nintendo Switch and its passionate fan-base marks an exciting milestone for Zynga.

“We created Star Wars: Hunters for every fan who has ever dreamed about playing a high-intensity action game set in the Star Wars galaxy and are excited to see Switch players embrace our foray into console gaming.”

Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed swings into location-based entertainment through Osool partnership

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WildBrain CPLG has secured a new partnership with Osool Entertainment to develop location-based entertainment attractions for the blockbuster video game franchise, Assassin’s Creed.

Brokered by WildBrain CPLG MENA on behalf of Ubisoft, the new deal will see Osool Entertainment create three new Assassin’s Creed indoor attractions in Saudi Arabia, targeting fans of the game aged between eight and 40 years old.

Scheduled to open in spring this year, the Assassin’s Creed attractions will be situated within Osool Entertainment’s indoor Fizz Adventure parks and consist of a branded parkour course including a rope and ninja course. The immersive experience will bring to life themes and elements from the video game franchise’s first instalment.

Assassin’s Creed is quite the success story within the video game industry. Since the first release in 2007, Ubisoft has launched 16 different video games for the franchise across a wide variety of platforms, most recently Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. The Assassin’s Creed series has sold more than 155 million games worldwide and the franchise is now established as one of the best-selling series in video game history.

The Assassin’s Creed franchise has branched well beyond video games in recent years, including into the cinematic realms via its 2016 feature film starring Michael Fassbender, and a new live-action series currently in development at Netflix.

Neesha Law, commercial director at WildBrain CPLG Middle East, said: “The combination of the rich world of Assassin’s Creed with the game’s cross-demographic appeal and its impressive international fan-base, makes this brand ideally positioned for location-based entertainment partnerships.

“Osool Entertainment has an exciting portfolio of top-class adventure courses and we look forward to seeing visitors live out their own action-packed, stealthy Assassin’s Creed-themed adventures when the attractions open their doors this Spring.”

Mohammed Al Shethry, CEO and co-founder of Osool Entertainment Investment Company, added: “At Osool, we are constantly engaged in developing world-class entertainment venues locally. Inspired by international standards, we endeavor to deliver a fulfilling experience to our visitors. Safety, combined with creativity and innovation, is at the heart of Osool’s vision. This empowering partnership with Ubisoft and WildBrain CPLG allows us to excel in our mission to provide quality entertainment in Saudi Arabia.”

Blizzard toasts 30 years of gaming and geekery in new anniversary merchandise collection

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Blizzard is toasting 30 years of gaming and geekery, as well as the launch of the first BlizzConline, with the release of a swathe of new merchandise this month across the Blizzard Gear Store.

New 30th Anniversary themed merchandise will lead a roll-out that includes limited edition pins, exclusive puzzles, art prints, gaming desk accessories, journals, outerwear and more. All of the products will be adorned with the 30th Anniversary Logo and include heroes and scenes from some of Blizzard’s most iconic games.

Announced earlier this month, Blizzard is also release an Artha Helm of Domination Blizzard Exclusive Replica, a special launch that taps directly into the hardcore fan base for its popular World of Warcraft franchise. Standing at over 15 inches in height, the launch is billed as one of the firm’s most premium collectables.

Blizzard VP of global consumer products, Matt Beecher, said: “We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate fans that have spent the last three decades with us than with a special collection that commemorates our shared journey.”

Fans will also be able to dive into the worlds and lore of Hearthstone, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft with new literary releases coming later this year. New launches will include The Art of Hearthstone Volume IV: Year of the Raven, The Art of Overwatch Volume 2, and World of Warcraft: Folk & Fairy Tales of Azeroth.

An official World of Warcraft Cookbook – World of Warcraft: New Flavours of Azeroth – will also be launched.

These new titles will be available for pre-order via the Blizzard Gear Store starting February 19.

Gamestream grows its console cloud gaming library with Deep Silver partnership

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The B2B cloud gaming company, Gamestream, has secured a new partnership with the video games publisher and developer Deep Silver to add seven of its titles to the company’s expanding console cloud gaming library.

Under the deal, IP including Saints Row and Agents of Mayhem will now be available to Gamestream customers in Europe and APAC.

It marks the latest suite of games to join a portfolio of more than 300 curated video games from publishers including Disney, Capcom, Codemasters, and Focus Home Interactive. Gamestream has been deployed in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia mainly through white-labelled versions of the Gamestream cloud gaming platform.

Ivan Lebeau, CEO of Gamestream, commented: “Deep Silver is one of the most respected and admired publishers in the world. The sheer breadth of innovation, creativity and accessibility in their portfolio is perfectly aligned with Gamestream’s audience, which caters for casual and mid-core gamers.

“With the backing of the Koch Media Group, our new Deep Silver licensing arrangement enables us to offer our global telco partners, and their many millions of customers, access to classic franchises like the incredibly creative open-world opus that is Saints Row.”

Gamestream’s ever-expanding cloud gaming catalogue is platform agnostic, meaning that it is accessible across platforms including smartphones (iOS and Android PWA enabled apps), TV (OTT, CTV, Smart TV), PCs, Macs and tablets.

The seven Deep Silver titles now available on Gamestream are Agents of Mayhem, Homefront, Homefront: The Revolution, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Saints Row IV: Game of the Century Edition, Saints Row: Gat Out Of Hell, and Saints Row: The Third – The Full Package

SPREE Interactive moves to be ‘at the forefront of VR attractions industry’ through licensing

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SPREE Interactive, a specialist in commercial VR attractions has signed its first, exclusive licensing partnership with VR Nerds to distribute the world’s first all-in-one mobile VR eSports experience for Tower Tag.

Tower Tag is currently the largest VR eSport game in the world, with over one million plays to date. The partnership will see the creation of a new SPREE Arena, in which up to eight players will be able to compete against each other or work as a team against a team of AI bots.

The licensing partnership is one among a suite of new updates for SPREE Interactive which in November 2020 secured a seven-digit investment of an undisclosed amount from two strategic and two financial investors. The firm will use the latest investment to expand its global operations.

Among its objectives is to tap int the growing demand of shopping centres across the US to diversify their offering as an impact of the coronavirus pandemic. With over 3 billion gamers globally by 2023, the global gaming market is estimated to reach $92.31 billion in the next six years. Meanwhile, esports revenues are estimated to reach $1.5bn by 2023.

Combined with the need for retail destinations to diversify their offering, SPREE Interactive believes there to be a lucrative future in combining all these elements.

“Covid has fueled even more demand from shopping malls which now desperately need alternate revenue streams and innovative ways to utilize the floor space especially with foot traffic fluctuating and increasing in various markets,” said Jonathan Nowak Delgado, founder and managing director, SPREE Interactive. 

SPREE’s products deliver one of the highest ROI in the industry. Operators are recouping their investment in less than six months generating additional revenue with an average of 2,500 plays per location, per month, boosting ticket sales and revenue for its enterprise clients like Family Entertainment Centers. 

Founded in 2017, formerly known as Holodeck VR, SPREE Interactive enables their clients, global entertainment retail chains, to successfully re-attract players into their locations. 

SPREE has previously billed its content strategy as ‘the Netflix of the hyper-immersive social virtual reality experiences,’ through which it will enable third-party content developers – such as VR Nerds – to develop for its open platform.

SPREE Investor, Stephan Berendsen, founder and managing director of the Germany-based firm, Berendsen Holding GmbH said: “Having sold my own company to Disney 15 years ago, I know what it takes for a company to become attractively scalable and profitable – and SPREE has the potential for both.”

SPREE’s founder and managing director Jonathan Nowak Delgado, concluded: “In order to continue to be on the forefront of the VR attractions industry, we will continue to build upon proprietary, patented sensor fusion technology, strategic partnerships and cutting edge content distribution platform as we plan our Series A round later this year.”