Competing toycos Hasbro and Mattel have inked their first series of multi-year licensing agreements to co-create new toys and games based on their iconic brands.
Hasbro is kicking things off in the fall with a line of Barbie-branded Monopoly games for worldwide release. Mattel will follow up later in the year with Transformers-branded UNO games and a line of Transformers Hot Wheels in early 2024.
Both companies are preparing for major theatrical releases this summer; Hasbro and Paramount will premiere Transformers: Rise of the Beasts on June 9, followed by Mattel/WBD’s Barbie on July 21.
Casey Collins, Hasbro’s president of global licensed consumer products and business development, said in a release that this deal will give both companies the opportunity to engage with more multi-generational audiences worldwide. And according to Illinois-based market research firm Circana (formerly the NPD Group), Hot Wheels (vehicles), Barbie (dolls) and UNO and Monopoly (board games) are the top-selling toy brands globally in their respective categories.