Gaming: Digital, Video, Hardware, and Development

Exoprimal evolves to 1 million players in nearly two weeks. Capcom announced its newest game, Exoprimal, has hit 1 million players. The online shooter about mech pilots fighting dinosaurs released on July 14 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One. Notably, it was a launch day title for Xbox Game Pass, which was likely a decent contributor to its player count. 

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PlayStation 5 has now sold 40 million consoles worldwide, Sony has announced. By comparison, PlayStation 4 -- the fastest-selling PlayStation console to 40 million -- achieved the same feat two months quicker. The PS5 was severely impacted by component shortages, which meant Sony was unable to supply the demand for the system during the first two years on the market. The console is now in full supply.

Xbox just got a huge library of classic retro games. For a few years now, unbeknownst to many of us, a subscription service called Antstream Arcade has offered users legal streaming of hundreds of classic games, from arcade hits to gems for home platforms like Amiga, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum, among others. 

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Quantum Error dev cancels PlayStation 4 version due to performance concerns. Developer TeamKill Media confirmed it would be canceling PlayStation 4 development of its upcoming game, Quantum Error. On Twitter, the developer said there was "no way" the last-gen version of the game would reach parity with the in-progress PlayStation 5 version.

CD Projekt Red laying off 100 workers after becoming "overstaffed". The Witcher and Cyberpunk developer CD Projekt Red is laying off 100 employees as a result of being "overstaffed." CD Projekt CEO Adam Kiciński said the layoffs represent around nine percent of the entire CD Projekt Red team, but are necessary as the studio looks to become "more agile and more effective." 

Highlighted Press Releases

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KIDS ALWAYS HAVE A BLAST WITH JAMM’D BLUETOOTH SPEAKER DESIGNED FOR AMAZING SOUND, GOOD LOOKS & LONG-LASTING PLAY. Jamm’d by Watchitude® $25 Bluetooth Speakers Now In Limited Edition Rainbow, Tie-Dye & Earthly Designs That Gets Everyone Up & Off The Couch. New Brunswick, NJ (August 1, 2023) – It’s hip to be square, just ask the kids! Square-shaped Jamm’d by Watchitude® Bluetooth Speakers ($25) is the kids way to pump up the jam that looks good, sounds great and lasts for 3 hours of wireless non-stop music. Function, form and beauty just for kids is a trademark of Watchitude®, the art-meets-toy maker. With this handsome little Bluetooth speaker that’s both lightweight and rechargeable, deciding where to have fun is unlimited! Look for them now at Watchitude.com.

***The above posted after July 28th***

PARENTS ARE GOING GAGA FOR GOKI! KINDER PLAYROOM NOW STOCKING THESE ADORABLE GERMAN WOODEN TOYS. From Pram Chain Hedgehog & Owl to Hammer Bench or Moose Balancing Game, Expect to Get Asked, ‘Where’d You Get That?’ Charlotte, NC (July 27, 2023) — The simplicity of playing with an open-ended German wooden toy continues to be a timeless classic that never loses its luster or appeal for children and parents alike. Toymaker goki brings its exquisite line of lovingly designed playthings for babies and kinder (German for children) stateside. KinderPlayroom.com stocks over four dozen goki toys with must-have items like Touch Ring Elastic Bear ($12.50) or Moose Balancing Game ($23.95). These European crafted toys are affordable and adorable plus they offer eco-friendly screen-free play season after season.

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WOULD YOU HUG A CACTUS? YES, SAYS MOOSH-MOOSH WHEN IT’S MAYA THE PLUSHIE WITHOUT THE PRICKLES. Moosh-Moosh Series 5 Is Now Available In A Dozen Soft & Squishy Personalities To Cuddle Or Stack From Dozer The Dalmatian To Taz The Koala & Now Maya!. Simi Valley, CA (July 26, 2023) – If you asked a kid to snuggle a pineapple or a cactus, would they do it? Absolutely, both retailers and parents agree–if they are Moosh-Moosh Series 5 pillow-y pals. The yellow pineapple with the green leafy top named Ana and the soft and friendly cactus with pretty red flowers named Maya are two of the dozen soft and squishy pillow plush toys from Moosh-Moosh. At $18.99, Ana and Maya and an armload of 12” x 8”x 6” pals are the perfect size and shape to comfort, to cuddle and to collect.

KIDS PREFERRED® ANNOUNCES ITS LINEUP FOR FALL 2023: DC & WIZARDING WORLD. President Larry Presser’s Strategic Yet Nimble Business Plan To License Warner Bros. Discovery Iconic Properties Introduces A New Generation of Kids Preferred Fans To Super Heroes & Wizards. East Windsor, NJ (July 25, 2023) – Kids Preferred®, in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, is rolling out an infant and toddler collection to gently introduce the magic of the DC Universe and Harry Potter™ to Generation Alpha. Zoomers to Boomers will be in awe of the cuddly and adorable plush, blankets, teethers and activity toys including My First Comic Book ($15) with a removable Batman and The Joker, peek-a-boo flaps and tactile ribbons. Can you say Kapow! Bonk! or Zowie!?

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Safety and Counterfeiting

Commission proposes clamp-down on hazardous chemicals in toys. EU toy safety rules should expand a generic ban on harmful chemicals to cover more hazard classes, the European Commission has proposed.

***The above posted after tBR ran on July 28th***

Barbie’s Big Screen Debut Lures Toy Scammers. According to LatentView Analytics, counterfeit toys generated over $32 billion in revenue in the U.S. in 2019. LatentView says that a key driver of fake toy sales is online marketplaces and since their advent, “52% of toy brands have seen an increase in fake toys sold.” In the EU, a majority of goods seized at the border are counterfeit from online trade and online shopping.

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FBI used Nintendo Switch to locate abducted child [Update]. The FBI used a Nintendo Switch console to locate an abducted 15-year-old girl, who had been missing for 11 days back in August 2022, Forbes reports. In a horrendous case involving kidnap and sexual exploitation, a teenage girl was found and rescued only after she logged online with her Nintendo Switch. 

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​Associations, Shows, Awards, Events, and Festivals

Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WIT) proudly reveals the highly anticipated slate of finalists for the prestigious 2023 Wonder Women Awards. This esteemed recognition honors outstanding female executives, thought leaders, entrepreneurs and change-makers, whose exceptional accomplishments have made a profound impact on the toy, licensing and entertainment industries.

Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) opens its online meeting platform as organisers confirm 190 exhibiting companies and thousands of retailers and manufacturers registered to attend. From today, anyone who is registered for BLE can use the online meetings platform to search for licence-ready brands spanning every category across entertainment, sports, gaming, heritage & non-profit, food & beverage, celebrity....

ToyFest announces dates for the 2024 show. The Western Toy and Hobby Representatives Association (WTHRA) announces the return of ToyFest to The Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas, March 3 – 5, 2024. The newly opened Expo Center in downtown Las Vegas served quite well for ToyFest the past two years. 

The Licensing Awards: The 2023 finalists in full. The Licensing Awards has once again attracted a phenomenal number of entries and nominations for 2023 across all the categories. Some 3,500 products were entered across the 11 Product awards categories, with the finalists being arrived at by some 250 retail buyers across the whole gamut of licensed and consumer products. 

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Preshow Noël Toys & Games readies for November event. In four months time, Preshow Noël Toys & Games will see over 130 international suppliers come together with key buyers in Deauville, Normandy. Preshow Noël Toys & Games, a leading European event for 2024 Christmas collections, says it offers one of the best opportunities for purchasing decision-makers and retailers. 

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Toy Trust fundraising benefits over 40 charities. The Toy Trust reports that, so far in 2023, in excess of £170,000 has been raised through industry fundraising. The year got off to a hugely successful start with the annual Media Auction achieving £107,100 during London Toy Fair in January. This was followed more recently by a brand-new initiative – May Mayhem, seeing the industry come together to raise...

NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2023 TOY & GAME INTERNATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS ARE OPEN! People of Play (POP) is Accepting TAGIE Award Nominations NOW Through August 4th. Now entering its 16th year, the TAGIE Awards, presented by People of Play (POP), will once again honor the best and brightest innovators, designers, retailers, suppliers, PR and marketers in the toy and game industry. Each year, the TAGIEs bring together the many communities that make up the larger industry of play, including professionals and fans from all over the world. The TAGIEs are part of POP Week. This important recognition, honoring contribution, innovation, and spirit of community is the very heart of POP.

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RIP - Rest in Play - Remembering Those that have Passed

If you know of a colleague's passing, please send us information so we may share with our readers. Archives can be found HERE

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Paul Reubens, the actor best known for portraying Pee-wee Herman, died Sunday night after a private bout of cancer. He was 70.

“Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years,” wrote Reubens in a statement posted to Instagram after his death. “I have always felt a huge amount of love and respect from my friends, fans and supporters. I have loved you all so much and enjoyed making art for you.”

“Last night we said farewell to Paul Reubens, an iconic American actor, comedian, writer and producer whose beloved character Pee-wee Herman delighted generations of children and adults with his positivity, whimsy and belief in the importance of kindness,” wrote Reubens’ estate in the caption. “Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit. A gifted and prolific talent, he will forever live in the comedy pantheon and in our hearts as a treasured friend and man of remarkable character and generosity of spirit.”

Reubens began his career in the 1970s after joining the Los Angeles live comedy troupe the Groundlings as an improvisational comedian and stage actor. In 1980, he launched “The Pee-wee Herman Show,” a stage production centered on a fictional character he had been developing for years. As Pee-wee became a beloved comic figure, Reubens’ show ran for five sold-out months, and he landed a special at HBO. Reubens also committed to the character in his interviews and public appearances.

In 1985, he teamed with Tim Burton on “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” the character’s feature film debut, which was a critical and commercial success. Reubens returned three years later for a follow-up film, “Big Top Pee-wee,” helmed by Randal Kleiser.

Jesse Horowitz - toy inventor loved by many. We are creating a POP profile page to show his wide impact on the toy industry. The following is what Howard Tarnoff posted on Linkedin: Jesse Horowitz passed away this past week while vacationing with family. He will be deeply missed by the many friends and family he impacted. To name just a few of his toy industry accomplishments, Jesse was the creator and designer of the JOHNNY EAGLE line, JOHNNY SPEED line, SILLY SAFARI game and SUZY CUTE doll. He conceived of the idea and helped in the development of STRETCH ARMSTRONG. He and his group were directly responsible for the creation of STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE and CARE BEARS.

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John Gibson - Veteran developer and programming visonary John Gibson has passed away. As reported by Time Extension, Gibson started out creating games for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum in the early '80s at Imagine Software. After Imagine went out of business, Gibson co-founded Liverpool-based studio Denton Designs and worked on projects such as Cosmic Wartoad and Gift from the Gods.

Gibson left Denton a few years later to join Psygnosis and became a key member of the company's Advanced Technology Group, where he made significant contributions to CD-ROM title Microcosm. According to MobyGames, Gibson remained at Psygnosis when the company was purchased by Sony but eventually moved to Warthog in 1998. Gibson would find his way back to Sony, however, with the seasoned developer joining Evolution Studios, which was subsequently acquired by the PlayStation maker 2007. At Sony, Gibson worked on titles including MotorStorm, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift, MotorStorm: Apocalypse, and DriveClub. He spent two decades at the company. Tributes to Gibson have been pouring in on social media, with former colleague Paul Hughes describing him as a "legend of game development" and others highlighting his status as one of the "pioneers" of the UK game industry.

Liam Smyth - Director of Smyths Toys Superstores, along with three of his brothers. Liam Smyth has passed away at the age of 60. He died at the Mayo Hospice, Castlebar following a period of illness. Liam was one of the directors of the well known Smyth’s Toys retail chain, along with a number of his brothers.

Liam hailed from Claremorris, County Mayo, where the Smyths business began life as a newsagents. The company has since grown from its humble beginnings to become one of the largest toy retailers in Ireland and the UK. Liam worked as a director alongside Tony, Padraig and Thomas Smyth.

In 2018, Smyths acquired Toys R Us stores in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, re-branding the stores to Smyths and marking the start of the company’s expansion into mainland Europe. In 2022, this was furthered by the acquisition of French toy chain PicWicToys and stores opening in The Netherlands. Smyths now operates over 272 stores across six countries.

Tributes have been paid to Liam by the local Chamber of Commerce, where a spokesperson described him as a leading figure in the business life of the town. In a statement, members paid tribute to his tireless efforts to improve the economy and amenities there.

Liam was a proud supporter of Claremorris GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association). A statement from the club said his passing was a huge loss to the town: “Everyone associated with Mayo GAA would like to express their sincere sympathy on the untimely death of Liam Smyth, a proud Claremorris man and a great supporter of Mayo GAA over the years.”

The club said its academy squads benefited greatly from Liam’s support and added that “Liam always extended this support in a quiet and an unassuming way; his warmth and generosity extended to many other walks of life both locally and further afield.”

The Claremorris Chamber of Commerce statement added: “With his brothers Tony, Padraig and Tommie, together they accomplished what very few Irish businesses achieve, they grew one shop in a small town into a global giant. Liam wore that modestly. Regardless of how busy he was, he always found time for whatever cause or group needed assistance. He was one of a kind.”

Liam is survived by his wife Anne and their five sons: Alex, Ben, Harry, Josh and Sam. Toy World would like to add its condolences to them, and to Liam’s brothers Tony, Padraig, Thomas and Joe, his sister Maura and the extended Smyth family at this sad time.

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