ABCPG announces return to Brand Licensing Europe 2018. Read on.
Activision Blizzard Consumer Products Group (ABCPG) returns to Brand Licensing Europe 2018 (BLE) with a fan-favorite roster of franchises and first-in-class partners to drive the continued international expansion of some of today’s hottest properties. Marking the group’s return to BLE since debuting internationally last year, ABCPG is making a greater splash through its continued expansion into the global market through a host of new lifestyle, toy and gaming partnerships to give fans new ways to play, display, wear and live the brands they love. Returning to represent a roster of iconic, blockbuster titles, including Call of Duty®: Black Ops 4, Spyro™ Reignited Trilogy, Crash Bandicoot™ N.Sane Trilogy and Bungie’s Destinyfrom Activision, and Overwatch®, Hearthstone® and World of Warcraft®fromBlizzard Entertainment, the company presence will also feature products from Nerf, New Era, McFarlane and more. Offering exciting opportunities for multi-category licensing, the company’s franchises of the future feature thrilling gameplay, linear storytelling, esports and consumer products for its global audience of more than 352 million gamers and fans.
“Activision Blizzard Consumer Products Group is delighted to return to BLE to showcase our growing slate of partnerships that will help fans engage with their favorite franchises in new and innovative ways,” said Philippe Bost, Vice President of International Consumer Products for Activision Blizzard. “As our merchandise programs continue to expand to the international market, we’re energized by the prospect of continuing to redefine how popular brands like Call of Duty and Overwatch are experienced by fans across the globe.”
Continued Commitment to International Growth
With iconic franchises such as Activision’s Call of Duty and Crash Bandicoot and Blizzard’s Overwatch at the forefront, ABCPG is steadfast in its dedication to bringing Activision and Blizzard’s powerhouse properties to life in new ways, particularly in Europe, and across Asian and Latin American markets through partnerships with retailers like UNIQLO and Primark.
Launching World-Class Partnerships
Overwatch: In collaboration with a number of global partners, including Hasbro, Nerf and LEGO Group, ABCPG is passionate about working with premier affiliates to create high quality and deeply relevant merchandise based on Blizzard’s beloved properties for the global gaming audience. Our highly anticipated Overwatch partnerships include a wide range of ways for fans to interact with their favorite franchises, including apparel, collectibles and toys, among other categories and partnerships yet to be announced.
With the Funko partnership, ABCPG expanded offerings to now include products within Funko’s flagship Loungefly brand, as well as plush, apparel and home decor products. Additionally, ABCPG is working with Good Smile to expand their core product offering and launch the company’s first ever Blizzard exclusive this Fall.
Call of Duty®: Black Ops 4: With the introduction of new partnerships such as BAIT, Supra, Hype and New Era, and adding to the likes of preexisting partners including Mattel, Astro and Kontrol Freek, the Call of Duty community will now have increased opportunities to interact with the franchise 365 days a year. Fans can look forward to more premiere, fashion-forward brand collaborations in celebration of and following the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.
Bungie’s Destiny: With the release of highly anticipated and transformative Destiny 2: Forsaken, Bungie introduces new partnerships with Gaya Entertainment and Level Up Wear to expand product offerings internationally, in addition to book publishing with Blizzard Entertainment. Bungie’s latest book published in partnership with Blizzard Entertainment, Destiny Grimoire Anthology, Vol. I, is available for preorder now with foreign language editions and more titles to be announced soon. The merchandise program is seeing international growth with the recent appointment of Bits and Pixels as the licensing agency for the EMEA territories.
Esports
The Overwatch League™ is the first major global professional esports league with city-based teams. In addition to aiding in the overall growth of mainstream professional gaming, the successful inaugural season of the Overwatch Leaguehas led to new product opportunities for licensed partners globally.
Coming off an exciting Grand Finals event this summer in front of a sold-out live audience at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, the league has recently expanded from 12 teams to 20—providing a strong basis for deep connections with passionate fan bases in even more major markets around the world for the 2019 season.