Games & Toys

Once again, Xbox’s rectangular console has shown an opportunity for simple but straightforward branding. We’ve seen it with pizza-scented controllers for the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” movie, and a dreamhouse-themed console for Barbie.  Bluey: The Video Game, based on the hit Australian animated children’s show “Bluey,” hit shelves last week. And while the…

The popularity of online gaming, especially free ones like Fortnite, has given rise to the concept of in-game purchases. A lot of those are things like weapons to use in the game or outfits for the character. With that popularity, brands have started putting their own "merchandise" in video games for characters to wear, like…

With the return of the NCAA Tournament, Pizza Hut is also bringing back a beloved promotional item that fans haven't seen since the 1990s: mini basketball and special pizza boxes that transform into a basketball hoop.

Funko, the company known for their Pop toys, which depict athletes, movie characters, bands, pretty much any pop culture figure in history, reportedly plans to "eliminate" between $30 million and $36 million in its figurines due to decreasing demand in toys.

The Ollyball is an inflatable ball that's designed for the one thing Mom always told you not to do: play ball in the house. Listen in as inventor Joe Burke explains to Brendan how his invention earned Toy of the Year honors, and how he's bringing the Ollyball into the promo space.

It shouldn't come as any surprise that the McDonald's "Adult Happy Meal" promotion was a hit. McDonald's has been pretty much batting 1.000 with its branded tie-ins thanks to celebrity endorsements and streetwear influence. The "Adult Happy Meal" was a partnership with designer brand Cactus Plant Flea Market, and included a toy using the brand's…

Pickleball is sweeping the nation, with new professional leagues and even an upcoming celebrity tournament hosted by Stephen Colbert. The game's accessibility makes it appealing to so many different people, and that makes it a huge opportunity for distributors to incorporate it into promotional campaigns.

A former Tokyo Olympics executive is being accused of accepting bribes from a company that sold officially licensed toys of the Tokyo 2020 mascots. https://twitter.com/pnagovph/status/1581828948601683968 According to the Japan Times, Haruyuki Takahashi allegedly received 8 million yen (about $53,700) from stuffed toy company Sun Arrow. This would be his fourth bribery case, having already been…

McDonald's is selling a Happy Meal specifically for adults as part of a tie in with streetwear brand Cactus Plant Flea Market. It comes in a special branded box, and includes a figurine of a classic McDonald's mascot (with a twist).

Disney is creating more ways for fans to buy branded merchandise by integrating an in-app commerce option into the Disney+ app. Other apps and services, such as Amazon Music, Spotify, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter, have made in-app purchasing possible, so it was inevitable that such a big commercial entity like Disney would get around to…