New World-Class Licensees Include Fanatics,
Starter, Upper Deck, DRKN, and Fashion UK
Esports Panel Set to Take Place on Tuesday,
June 4 from 11:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.Global Licensing Theater
Group (Booth A105)
Returning Programs Include Hasbro, LEGO®
Group, Funko, UNIQLO, Astro, New Era, McFarlane, and More
Returning with a dedication to providing global consumers with
an unmatched fan experience centered on consumer products,
Activision Blizzard Consumer Products Group (ABCPG) arrives
at Licensing Expo 2019 with an all-star roster of new and returning
licensed programs and world-class licensees. The iconic franchises
from Activision and Blizzard Entertainment continue to grow beyond
gameplay, and Licensing Expo will showcase a range of consumer
products that deliver engaging, relevant, and innovative
experiences unparalleled in the video game space.
This press release features multimedia. View
the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190604005395/en/
(Graphic: Business Wire)
“Activision Blizzard has a portfolio of some of the world’s most
beloved franchises, and our aim is to work with world-class
licensees that enrich our fans’ experience around the world,” said
Steve Young, President of Activision Blizzard Consumer Products
Group. “The fan experience is at the center of everything we do,
and we’re thrilled to create new opportunities for players to
immerse themselves and show their passion for Activision’s and
Blizzard’s games through relationships ranging from LEGO to
UNIQLO.”
Since its inception, ABCPG remains steadfast in its efforts to
drive global growth and engagement for Activision Blizzard’s
flagship brands, including Activision’s Call of Duty®,
Crash Bandicoot™ and Spyro™, and Blizzard’s
Overwatch® and World of Warcraft®.
Additionally, with Activision Blizzard at the vanguard of
competitive entertainment, ABCPG continues to raise the bar for
esports via the merchandise program for the Overwatch
League™ as we usher in a new generation of fans and
athletes.
Activision Highlights
This year, the definitive, first-person action series Call of
Duty continues to build on a successful 2018 with new
collaborations and offerings. International streetwear brand
DRKN, in collaboration with Activision, will launch a
high-end Call of Duty capsule collection, which will be available
Fall 2019. Additionally, Fashion UK, newly appointed
Pan-European apparel and fashion accessory collaborator, will
develop and offer a range of products across a wide selection of
retailers, available this Fall. Following the May 30 game
announcement, ABCPG worked with Bioworld,
KontrolFreek, New Era and international companies
Pyramid and Fashion UK on a range of products to
drive further excitement around the reveal of the highly
anticipated Fall launch. Furthermore, Astro, Scuf
Gaming, Surreal, and Rubber Road will return
with Call of Duty licensed programs this year.
2019 marks the 40th anniversary of Activision and its rich
history helping to support and define the standard for innovation
within the video game industry. Looking into Activision’s past,
present, and future, we want to celebrate gamers – across
generations – by leaning into the strong consumer demand for retro
properties with the reemergence of iconic characters from the Crash
Bandicoot and Spyro franchises. ABCPG is dedicated to fully
embracing the possibilities with consumer products for Crash
Team Racing as well as for the critically acclaimed Sekiro™:
Shadows Die Twice.
Blizzard Highlights
Toy and apparel offerings for Overwatch continue to
expand throughout 2019. LEGO® Group kicked off the year with
the release of the first ever LEGO Overwatch product line,
which will feature new product launches later this year at various
price points. Additionally, Overwatch franchise master toy licensee
Hasbro continues to create a wide range of play experiences,
including the recently released Overwatch Ultimates
Action Figures and NERF Blasters product lines,
as well as the upcoming tabletop board game Overwatch
Monopoly, with more to come this Fall. Further, apparel
juggernaut UNIQLO launched – with a global program in May
rolling out regionally through the end of June – an exclusive line
of clothing across Blizzard franchises, including Overwatch
and World of Warcraft®, as part of its Spring/Summer
2019 collection.
Funko also has launched the latest wave of
Overwatch Pops! designed for the growing segment of
collector-fans. In addition, Insight Editions is now
offering global Overwatch fans and foodies the opportunity to
preorder Overwatch: The Official Cookbook filled with more
than 100 recipes inspired by the heroes of Blizzard’s hit game.
Finally, multinational book publisher Scholastic announced
preorders for the third installment of the World of Warcraft
Traveler book series, aimed at young readers, which is due out
later this year.
ABCPG is also thrilled to announce the relaunch of the official
Blizzard Gear Store in China with new ecommerce licensee
Baozun. Kicking off on May 15 on Tmall (Alibaba Group), this
relationship now allows offerings on the Blizzard Gear Store to
reach millions of fans throughout the region.
Esports Highlights
The Overwatch League has also entered into an e-commerce
license agreement with Fanatics, the worldwide leader in
licensed sports merchandise. This new e-commerce platform helps
fans around the world connect with their favorite league, teams,
and players via Shop.OverwatchLeague.com. Through the multiyear
deal with Fanatics, ABCPG is excited to bring the avid
esports fan base ongoing licensed product offerings. On May 20,
Baozun launched the Overwatch League’s official China
ecommerce shop on Tmall (Alibaba Group). Newly launched
relationships for the Overwatch League include New Era,
Starter, G-III, Outerstuff, and the first-ever
trading card program for esports with Upper Deck.
Additionally, Funko will be launching an Overwatch
League-themed Pop! Vinyl SKU in Q4 of this year. ABCPG is also
currently exploring opportunities for the next iteration of Call
of Duty esports.
ABCPG will be hosting an esports-focused panel at
Licensing Expo on Tuesday, June 4 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
(Booth #A105), which will spotlight the Overwatch League’s
inaugural season while showcasing how our expanding licensed
merchandise portfolio is supporting and elevating esports fan
culture.
Check out the ABCPG booth during Licensing Expo 2019, located in
Booth #U202.
About Activision Blizzard Consumer
Products Group
Activision Blizzard Consumer Products Group is a division of
Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), an S&P 500 company and a
leading standalone interactive entertainment company. Building on
the existing consumer products businesses, the Activision Blizzard
Consumer Products Group encompasses Activision, Blizzard and King’s
franchises. The division is passionate about working with
best-in-class licensees around the world to create high quality and
deeply relevant merchandise that gives fans new ways to play,
display, wear, and live the brands they love. Activision Blizzard
is home to iconic and beloved entertainment franchises, including
Activision’s Call of Duty®, Crash Bandicoot™, Spyro™, and
Skylanders®; Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft®, and
Overwatch®; and King Digital Entertainment’s Candy Crush™.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking
Statements: Information in this press release that involves
Activision Blizzard's expectations, plans, intentions or strategies
regarding the future, including statements about the company's
Consumer Products division, including with respect to Licensing
Expo 2019, including the date and features of the esports-focused
panel at Licensing Expo, and the merchandise licensing programs for
Call of Duty, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice,
Call of Duty esports, World of Warcraft, Overwatch, the Overwatch
League, and the Blizzard Gear Store in China, including their
availability, features and licensees, are forward-looking
statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and
uncertainties. Factors that could cause Activision Blizzard's
actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in
the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include
unanticipated product delays and other factors identified in the
risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard's most recent annual
report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form
10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon
information available to Activision Blizzard as of the
date of this release, and the company does not assume any
obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may
ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not
guarantees of the future performance of Activision
Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other
factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual
results to differ materially from current expectations.
© 2019 Activision Publishing, Inc. Activision, Call of Duty,
Call of Duty, Crash Bandicoot, and Spyro are trademarks of
Activision Publishing, Inc.
© 2019 Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. Overwatch League is a
trademark and Overwatch, World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, Blizzard,
and Blizzard Entertainment are trademarks or registered trademarks
of Blizzard Entertainment, Inc., in the U.S. and/or other
countries.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190604005395/en/
Dashaun GasquePMK•BNCDashaun.Gasque@pmkbnc.com
Steve WillisPMK•BNCSteve.Willis@pmkbnc.com
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