December video game sales were up to a record-breaking $43.4 billion year-end total. The Nintendo Switch passed Sony’s Playstation 4 to become the top-selling console, with Red Dead Redemption 2, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, NBA 2K19, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Mario Kart 8, and Marvel’s Spider-Man among the titles doing big business to lure gamers. December tracked spending* across video game hardware, software, game cards, and accessories, totalling $3.4 billion, up 2 percent compared to last year. Gains in accessories and game card spending offset declines in hardware and software spending. This is the highest December tracked consumer spend since 2015. Annual spending across tracked video game hardware, software, accessories, and game cards increased 13 percent compared with $16.7 billion in 2017. This is the highest annual consumer spend total since the $17.4 billion generated in 2011. *Tracked spending is not meant to cover total market/total consumer spend. ✪
POKÉMON REVEALS DETECTIVE PIKACHU CONSUMER PRODUCTS The Pokémon Co. International unveiled an extensive consumer products line inspired by the upcoming film Pokémon Detective Pikachu. The new movie from Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Entertainment, and The Pokémon Co. arrives in theaters on May 10. The initial merchandise line for the film
includes new Pokémon Trading Card Game collections; Pokémon Center exclusives, including apparel; action figures and plush from master toy licensee Wicked Cool Toys; and new construction sets from Mattel’s Mega Construx. Additionally, The Pokémon Co. teamed up with a variety of licensing partners to expand the brand across publishing and lifestyle merchandise that will become available at mass retailers throughout the year. Products will begin to debut in late March. ✪
raised $1.3 million for St. Jude’s Research Hospital through various live streaming events, breaking fundraising records during St. Jude Play Live. Last year, State Farm became the first non-endemic sponsor in North America of the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS), the first NBA partner to sign a separate deal to sponsor the NBA 2K League, and a major sponsor of the Rocket League Championship Series. ✪
FORTNITE STREAMER DRLUPO SCORES STATE FARM SPONSORSHIP Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there for DrLupo. One of the best and most-followed Fortnite players in the world, Nebraska’s Benjamin “DrLupo” Lupo is a top Twitch streamer and captain of Rogue’s Fortnite Team. He recently became the first-ever individual eSports athlete to be sponsored by State Farm, a move that signals further expansion by the insurance giant into the support of eSports. The State Farm deal with DrLupo includes State Farm support of DrLupo’s livestreams with branded replays, live in-stream stunts, product integrations, event-based remote streams, sponsored giveaways, and social content. Harnessing his audience of more than 2.9 million followers on Twitch and 7 million followers across all social platforms, DrLupo uses his influence to support charitable causes. Last year, DrLupo
DIAMOND SELECT RELEASES KINGDOM HEARTS III TOY COLLECTION
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After the release of Square Enix’s Kingdom Hearts III last month, a host of new offerings from Diamond Select Toys (DST) will accompany the long-awaited video game. Disney collectors can look for new Kingdom Hearts action figures, resin busts, PVC dioramas, Vinimates, Minimates, and more launching between now and this summer. Most items are available to purchase or pre-order at comic shops and specialty retailers, with some exclusives headed to GameStop and Walgreens. The robust lineup from DST includes Kingdom Hearts Select action figures (available now), Kingdom Hearts III Select action figures (coming this spring), Kingdom Hearts Gallery PVC Dioramas (available now, exclusive to GameStop), Kingdom Hearts III Vinimates vinyl figures (available now), Kingdom Hearts Minimates (available now), Kingdom Hearts Minimates Series Three (coming this summer), and the Legends in 3D Sora half-scale resin bust (coming this spring). All of the toys reflect the cross-genre Disney mashup that finds characters visiting locations from Tron, Toy Story, Pirates of the Caribbean, and more. ✪
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