ToyLand: LEGO and Hasbro to Make Overwatch Toys
We’re getting everything from themed kits, games, and action figures to NERF guns starting early next year thanks to a new licensing agreement between Blizzard and the two toy companies.
Overwatch has become an extremely popular game since it’s release – it currently has 35+ million registered accounts and a professional eSports league that includes players from all over the globe attached to it. It’s actually a bit surprising that this deal didn’t happen a few years ago.
Both companies are, as usual, enthusiastic about what’s in store. From the press release:
“We are thrilled to announce this partnership with Blizzard for the Overwatch franchise,” said Samantha Lomow, senior vice president, Hasbro. “The roster of bold, diverse characters, and a passionate following of more than 40 million players have inspired our teams to create an amazing product line that will not only appeal to the passionate Overwatch fan base, but also attract new fans into the Overwatch universe.”
“Overwatch has really taken on a life of its own with our global community, so it’s been important to us to work with partners who share our passion and commitment to quality when it comes to translating the spirit of the game into new real-world play experiences,” said Matthew Beecher, VP, Blizzard Consumer Products. “With Hasbro’s rich history of innovation and a long track record of bringing amazing worlds to life for new audiences, we couldn’t imagine a better or more appropriate teammate.”
The first run of products will be NERF Rival Overwatch blasters – those will be out in January of next year. More form them will hit the market in Q3 and Q4, just in time for Christmas. I’d bet Hasbro is going to put out a line of 3.75″ figs and accessories to go with them along with the new NERF line.
LEGO will be releasing sets across multiple price points, so expect something similar to the range they’ve recently put out for Solo – $15.00 to $75.00 per kit. Maybe they’ll take inspiration from some of the great fan-made kits out there, like they did with TRON.
This new deal will give fans more budget-friendly options and ways to show their fandom. It’ll be interesting what they come up with.
