Hasbro to Create Wide Range of Overwatch® Play Experiences
PAWTUCKET, R.I. & SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 22, 2018--
Hasbro,
Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) today announced that they have signed
a licensing agreement with Blizzard Entertainment to become the global
master toy licensee for the Overwatch® franchise. Hasbro will create a
wide range of play experiences including NERF products, games and more,
based on the growing Overwatch® universe and its characters.
Overwatch is a highly-stylized team-based action game set in Earth’s
near future. Featuring 27 playable heroes with unique powers and
abilities, Overwatch immerses players in intense multiplayer showdowns
where they must band together to keep the world safe from rising
conflict. Overwatch is also the basis for the Overwatch League®, the
first major global city-based esports league, featuring teams from Asia,
Europe, and North America.
“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 fight for the future will reach a new stage in January 2019, when
Hasbro releases Overwatch® blasters in its NERF Rival line. Additional
product categories will be launched Fall 2019 in the US and
international markets.
About Hasbro
Hasbro (NASDAQ:
HAS) is a global play and entertainment company committed to Creating
the World's Best Play Experiences. From toys and games to
television, movies, digital gaming and consumer products, Hasbro offers
a variety of ways for audiences to experience its iconic brands,
including NERF, MY LITTLE PONY, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH, MONOPOLY, BABY
ALIVE and MAGIC: THE GATHERING, as well as premier partner brands.
Through its entertainment labels, Allspark Pictures and Allspark
Animation, the Company is building its brands globally through great
storytelling and content on all screens. Hasbro is committed to making
the world a better place for children and their families through
corporate social responsibility and philanthropy. Hasbro ranked No. 5 on
the 2018 100 Best Corporate Citizens list by CR Magazine,
and has been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere
Institute for the past seven years. Learn more at www.hasbro.com,
and follow us on Twitter (@Hasbro & @HasbroNews)
and Instagram (@Hasbro).
About Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.
Best known for
blockbuster hits including World of Warcraft®, Hearthstone®, Overwatch®,
the Warcraft®, StarCraft®, and Diablo® franchises, and the
multi-franchise Heroes of the Storm®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com),
a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), is a premier developer
and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating some of
the industry’s most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard Entertainment’s
track record includes twenty-one #1 games* and multiple Game of the Year
awards. The company's online gaming service, Blizzard Battle.net®, is
one of the largest online-gaming services in the world, with millions of
active players.
*Sales and/or downloads, based on internal company records and reports
from key distribution partners.
HAS-B
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180522005295/en/
Source: Hasbro, Inc.
For Hasbro:
Jen DeAngelis, 401-727-6833
Hasbro Global
Communications
jen.deangelis@hasbro.com
or
For
Blizzard Entertainment:
Steven Khoo, 949-955-1380 x12508
Global
PR Manager
skhoo@blizzard.com
