Stars of the National Football League are to appear as playable characters in the hit mobile game Subway Surfers in a first of its kind partnership for SYBO Games, the NFL Players Association, and OneTeam Partners.
The endless runner mobile game crossed three billion downloads worldwide in August and was the number one most downloaded mobile game in the US on the App store for both games and apps this past July. The new deal was brokered by OneTeam, the NFLPA’s group licensing representative in the video game category.
For three weeks, beginning September 10th, Subway Surfers gamers can unlock and play as some of the world’s most famous runners. Six NFL players along with their names, numbers, images, and likenesses will be unlockable and playable as Subway Surfers in an American football-themed game event.
Tom Brady (Quarterback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Lamar Jackson (Quarterback, Baltimore Ravens), Patrick Mahomes (Quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs), Odell Beckham Jr. (Wide receiver, Cleveland Browns), Dak Prescott (Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys) and Saquon Barkley (Running back, New York Giants), will each feature in the game for the limited time.
In addition, in-game hoverboards based on the six NFL player characters will be unlockable prizes.
“The partnership with the NFLPA and OneTeam marks yet another amazing milestone for us,” said Naz Amarchi-Cuevas, SYBO Games’ chief commercial officer. “Coming just after we crossed three billion downloads, this collaboration is yet another first for Subway Surfers. The integration of the NFL stars, combined with our premium gaming experience and overall digital content will galvanize gaming and sports fans alike.”
Steve Scebelo, interim president, NFL PLayers Inc, the marketing and licensing arm of the NFLPA, added: “The endless runner’s storyline, the game’s monthly visit to different cities and its all-around hip and diverse attributes, make Subway Surfers such a natural playing field for the NFLPA.
“We’re excited to offer both mobile gamers and football fans alike a truly one-of-a-kind experience by personifying NFL players in the world’s most downloaded endless runner game.”
In August, Subway Surfers crossed three billion downloads globally and is currently leading the download charts in the United States as the most downloaded free game and free app on iOs, as per industry analyst Sensor Tower. It was named the most downloaded game of the decade in late 2019 by App Annie.
Originally conceived as an animation property in 2009, creators Sylvester Rishøj Jensen and Bodie Jahn-Mulliner won first prize for best animation movie about a cool character that hangs out at an old subway station, avoiding a grumpy inspector and his dog. Their short film gave birth to Subway Surfers, the mobile game in 2012.
