Welcome to Your Weekly News Brief!
Happy Bloomin' Friday!
So much excitement is coming out of San Diego Comic-Con, and the anticipation is building for Gen Con! Just how many board games are released each year?!
Speaking of board games, we're pleased to share Julien Sharp's AGPI keynote below. It was one of the most interesting—and unexpected—presentations I've heard, offering fresh perspectives on where tabletop gaming is headed. A few of her thought-provoking takeaways include:
If you're heading to LA Previews, we have a new date for the Laugh Factory - Nextoy -POP event! Join colleagues on Monday, September 14, for an evening of laughter and networking. Use promo code TOY to receive a special $30 ticket (before fees), which includes admission beginning at 6:30 p.m. for a pre-show cocktail hour in the upstairs lounge, complimentary pizza, and priority seating. Space for the cocktail hour is limited to just 80 guests, reserve your spot now!
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Celebrating Play and the People Who Make It Possible,
Mary and the POP Team
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Asmodee's Julien Sharp: Where Is Board Gaming Headed Next?
It’s always toward the table.
The following article is adapted from the keynote address delivered by Julien Sharp, General Manager, asmodee North America, at the Association of Games & Puzzles International (AGPI) Annual Convention in Minneapolis on July 11, 2026. It has been adapted from remarks as delivered for print publication.
I run asmodee's U.S. operations, which means I sit at the intersection of publishers, retailers, and the people who actually play games. After nearly two decades in the toy and game industry, I've had the opportunity to watch tabletop gaming evolve from a niche hobby into mainstream culture—which means I've seen enough cycles to have opinions, and enough humility to know I've been wrong before.
Rather than looking backward at the industry's recent success, I'd like to look forward. Here are four predictions I believe will shape the next decade of tabletop gaming. If you disagree, good—that's the point. The best outcome is that this leaves you with something to debate. READ MORE
The Smart Way Toy Brands Are Finding Retailers Between Trade Shows
Every toy founder is familiar with the rollercoaster of toy tradeshows. You spend months and a small fortune getting ready for ASTRA or Toy Fair. You have four incredible days of conversations with stores of all sizes and can’t believe how much interest there is in your brand. Then you go home, with your adrenaline on another planet and a few days later you hit the post-show crash.
After four days surrounded by your toy people, the quiet or chaos of home-life can be jarring. Your leads are cooling off and the momentum is waning. Your next show is months away and you aren’t quite sure what you should be doing until then.
Those in between show moments, is why I built Toy Matchmaker.
Outside of toy tradeshows I noticed that my students and clients were struggling to find the right retailers to carry their product. It was like death by a thousand tabs. READ MORE
Cartoon Lovers, Lexophiles & People in Need of a Smile!
Cartoon of the Week: Another wonderful cartoon submitted this week!
Do you have a cartoon, quote or a joke to share? Send it to Mary.
Memorable Quotes: "Games are not just about winning or losing. They are the journey, the laughter, and the shared memories created along the way." – Reiner Knizia, prolific board game designer
Toy Industry Word of Day: If you can think of a toy/game industry word not in our POPDictionary, add it and we will connect it to you POP profile, feature it here in an upcoming week and on POP's homepage!

Happiest of Birthdays to our colleagues celebrating birthdays the past 2 weeks
| John Ellis Jeffrey Lull Tom Kalinske Chris Boucher Harvey Diamond Todd Sorrell |
Debi John Joseph Ronald Tony Morley Sabrina Cameli Terence Stamp Isaac Heller |
The Trump administration has ramped its tariff actions back up since the president's trade agenda suffered major legal setbacks earlier this year.
The company has been able to complete its CVA early after demand for model making and crochet caused a 13% increase in online users.
Bendon LLC acquires School Zone Publishing Company, extending the company’s reach of educational resources.
Strong digital gaming and Consumer Products growth push the company to raise its 2026 outlook.
Action Play & Collectibles and a North American rebound push quarterly revenue higher as the company heads into the back half of 2026 with momentum.
Jellycat claims its popular Amuseables range, which includes plush food items and everyday objects, has been copied by Next's biscuit-shaped cushion and doorstop, and Hamleys' various food and item plushies.
In 2013, Sony tweaked Xbox by showing how easy it was to share a PlayStation disc. Now, gamers say Sony has become exactly what it mocked.
That’s roughly double the amount GameStop owned in May, when the company made its initial $56 billion offer to acquire the marketplace.
A judge partially granted the request from a dozen state attorneys general to temporarily place the $110 billion merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery on hold.
Canada's relationship with the U.S. has frayed amid Trump's tariff-heavy agenda and vocal displeasure with the nations' trilateral trade pact with Mexico.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer telegraphed that the Trump administration could impose new tariffs just as other duties are set to expire.
'Nintendo or one of its retailers set a price for each product, and consumers decided whether that price was worth paying.'
The veteran card game has been on a tear over the past four years, evolving from parent company Hasbro's first $1bn-brand into the toy and entertainment giant's primary source of growth.
Sticker shock at the gas station has taken hold, and toy makers and sellers are feeling the pinch. No stranger to change, however, the industry is assessing how to adapt to this latest challenge.
"2026 has seen an acceleration in the changes I’ve seen coming for a while in the toy industry as trend driven low price point as almost become the big brands of the industry."
The Toy Association’s trends team has been featuring members’ toys and games tied to the summer’s biggest conversations — from outdoor fun to safe summer play and soccer-inspired toys — to consumers across major media markets and publications.
Will your company be showing 2027 product in Los Angeles this fall? Be sure to schedule a meeting with The Toy Association’s trends team to showcase your latest launches and line extensions.
Imaginative playthings, giftable games, and trend-driven novelties designed to delight shoppers and drive discovery.
From display-worthy action figures and buildable models to reimagined retro brands, these toys and games speak to the kid in every collector.
From front yard face-offs to board game battles, these toys turn play into a shared adventure.
These educational toys and games give kids' brains' a boost through everyday play.
UK research firm We Are Family’s has taken a deep dive into the category, which is benefiting from global interest and the unboxing trend.
Toy companies are offering an early preview of toys expected to top holiday wish lists at the annual Sweet Suite event, which showcases the latest games, collectibles, and must-have releases.
Microschools, inclusive classrooms, expanded STEAM instruction, and rising demand for social-emotional learning are changing the education market.
School’s out, summer holidays are in, and grocers have filled up their power aisles with Back-to-School ranges.
From Magic and D&D to blind-box-style collectibles and digital gaming, Toy Book takes a closer look at the strategy behind the numbers.
"Instead of implementing electronic kiosks, self-service checkouts, online options, and elaborate digital displays, we returned to basics and focused on tried-and-true local retail pillars..."
"Battlestar Galactica taught me that anything could be reimagined and aged up if the underlying idea was strong enough. For my money, it helped write the modern playbook that comic book, toy and game adaptations have been borrowing from ever since: take the source material seriously, respect the fans, raise the stakes and don’t be afraid to grow up with the audience."
A nineteenth-century experiment in children's play helped reshape American cities—and later fell out of favor.
Published by Milton Bradley in 1994, the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Battling Dice game combined the popularity of the Power Rangers franchise with dice-rolling action.
The lightsaber used by actor Mark Hamill in 'The Empire Strikes Back' (1980) has broken a record at auction for the sale of screen-used props. It sold for $3.75 million.
“Look, a secret compartment.”
Watch as Dave of the Toy Polloi YouTube channel repairs a M.A.S.K. Boulder Hill playset from Kenner.
Released by Milton Bradley in 1969, Bump Ball was a large, soft foam ball covered with raised bumps that challenged pairs of players to perform stunts, games, and even dance routines without using their hands.
Luminopia teams up with Spin Master to bring family-friendly content to pediatric patients with amblyopia.
First 4 Figures launched its Sonic Frontiers Collection. The line includes statues of Sonic the Hedgehog, Super Sonic and the chaos emeralds.
The live-action film moves to streaming with a new smart TV collaboration as Mattel continues building momentum around Eternia.
Lego has partnered with Gillian Anderson to unveil the 'The X-Files' 1,478-piece set featuring Mulder, Scully and six more minifigures.
Netflix's original animated feature film Swapped has cracked the top 10 of the streamer's most popular movie list.
The campaign reached a total amount of $68,841 and the figure will be going into production as a result.
Deluxe board game in an oversized coffee table-style book pays homage to 250 years of American history and manufacturing heritage.
The 2016 release has become the most watched movie on Disney+. Parents and experts explain why kids can't get enough.
Lucasfilm Publishing recently released Eyes Like Stars, a YA romance book set in the world of Star Wars. It may seem like a frivolous love story, but there are some fascinating canon reveals.
At San Diego Comic-Con, Bandai Namco Filmworks announced Mobile Suit Gundam RG XARX-ZERO, a new anime set for release in 2027.
The "KPop Demon Hunters" Funko Pops! line is expanding to include the demon versions of the Saja Boys as the company plans to launch its Pop! Mystery program at the 2026 San Diego Comic-Con.
Ahead of Brand Licensing Europe, Veronica Orciari shares with readers some hot topics for the industry that will be crucial themes also at the industry's event of the year this Fall.
Mattel is offering a 3-pack of KPop Demon Hunters figures of Rumi, Mira and Zoey online and at San Diego Comic-Con this week, and because they are exclusives, they are expected to go fast.
The Colorific Peppa Pig Doodle range encourages toddlers to bring their creativity to life through engaging, movement-based doodle play.
Lead actor Ryan Hurst has left the production after a serious injury.
UK retailer Argos has given fans a closer look at the upcoming LEGO Donkey Kong Arcade game. The set includes 1367 pieces and will go on sale later this year.
The minds behind Critical Role have proven themselves time and again to be masters at creating fantastical worlds and adventures for its cast to embark on, all for the enjoyment of fans across the globe.
Nintendo and Hasbro are partnering to produce toys based on the classic action and adventure game that was first released in 1987.
Netflix orders a reality competition series as Paramount taps Danny McBride to direct its next G.I. Joe film.
This lineup features licensed products based on some of the most popular games on the market, including Poppy Playtime, Fortnite, Minecraft, and more, as well as retro picks like PAC-MAN and Tetris.
Wendy’s brings speedy collectibles to its Kids’ Meals through a collaboration with SEGA’s Sonic the Hedgehog.
This collaboration promises new collectibles and mystery items for 2027.
Disney+ has ordered the series version of the "Afterlife With Archie" comics, Variety has learned.
Hasbro is stealing the show at this year’s SDCC with its latest KPop Demon Hunters toy: an interactive replica of Rumi’s signature weapon.
Rabie breaks down his learned experience from co-founding Spin Master with his partners.
Maidy oversees consumer products strategy across the U.S. and Canada.
At a panel in New York, Eisner said he went from thinking sequels were overrated to the Lucasfilm masterstroke, before Disney "overstepped its bounds."
With 89% of parents and grandparents saying hands-on hobbies help keep children away from screens, Hornby is encouraging kids to turn to model trains for play.
This tiny surprise is about to unlock some very big childhood memories
Together with Penguin Young Readers, Melissa & Doug has cooked up the first-ever board books inspired by its classic wooden toys.
"Annalee gave me a great gift of confidence, and it shaped our solution to her branding needs. Such a great name, idea, and now, 12 years after their launch; a selling success."
Playmobil is launching a new card-plus-gift collection that combines occasion-led greeting cards with collectible Playmobil figures, transforming traditional cards into keepsake gifts.
The launch of Scotch Kids Tape is a strong example of how legacy consumer brands can move into the children’s creative play space without straying far from their core product.
Multiyear partnership is part of the food conglomerate’s effort to reinvigorate brands.
The collaboration will bring a collection of cheeky, personality-packed collectibles to life, with new products and blind packs slated to debut in 2027.
The internationally acclaimed Speed-and-Reflex classic returns with exclusive new packaging.
Fueled by its mission to be “Here for the Superfans,” the trading card giant will celebrate through a series of fan-first experiences across San Diego, giving fans new ways to connect with the stories, characters, and communities behind their favorite fandoms.
The Calmness Crew is a collection of talking plush companions that guide children through calming techniques.
The appointment comes as Zatu Distribution continues to expand its brand, relying on Playtime to handle consumer PR for its growing portfolio of games.
The Italian company was founded by Angelo Venturelli in 1959 and has been a leading producer and distributor of plush toys ever since.
Spin Master will be releasing a Ms. Rachel collection of interactive toys that encourage communication, emotional development and more.
Hasbro is launching its classic games with Dr. Seuss-inspired themes. The games include Candy Land, Trouble, The Game of Life, and more.
Disney Consumer Products is launching its First-to-School campaign highlighting products used by young kids and families.
These Funny Ugly Monsters can now be found on store shelves.
The two-volume hardcover set spotlights iconic toy brands.
For 'Anne Rice's Immortal Universe RPG' Product Line
Play school's been educating and entertaining generations of Australians for 60 years. As part of its diamond anniversary celebrations, the program has held a national toy designing competition, with entries from more than ten-thousand children.
Pixar and Nat Geo are said to be hit particularly hard in the latest round of cuts, with some high-profile talent also being let go at ESPN.
Scott Brady believes many outstanding games never reach players not because they lack quality, but because publishers must plan their release schedules years in advance - and with only so many publishing slots available each year, excellent games are often left waiting for an opportunity that may never come.
This line is available now, exclusively at Target.
This event was done to celebrate the Pokémon GO 10th Anniversary!
The partnership between GameStop and Uber Eats reflects a broader shift toward on-demand retail becoming a new distribution channel for toys, collectibles and entertainment products.
Titans like Resident Evil Requiem and Crimson Desert dominated in the first half of the gaming year, with early-access sequels like Slay the Spire 2 and Subnautica 2 not far behind.
The history of video games spans back nearly a hundred years, but most people only consider it to be around 50 to 60 years old, when classic titles like Pong and Tetris shocked the world.
Microsoft says the ad-supported streaming option will only be available for a limited time during a "test period."
Nintendo has been all in on remakes as of late and Shigeru Miyamoto addressed this very issue in the latest edition of Japanese gaming magazine, Famitsu.
Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. released a new producer video for DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO, offering an in-depth look at the upcoming Super Limit-Breaking NEO DLC.
With discourse still growing around Sony’s plans to completely abandon physical media in 2028 Famitsu asked SEGA president and COO, Shuji Utsumi, about his thoughts on physical video game software.
'I've been a gamer my whole life. If you cut a stat in half everyone would call that nerfed.'
Warner Bros. and Amazon Luna to launch the crime-solving party game ‘Batman: Caped Crusader – Chronicles’ on July 31.
A Game Studio, LLC today announced the launch of Proof-of-Play™, a new boutique publishing initiative created to help exceptional tabletop games reach the market faster. The program debuts with two original titles, Lock & Chain and Perfect 10, each released as a Proof-of-Play™ Limited Edition.
USPS just restructured how they price anything under a pound, on top of two rate hikes already stacked in this year alone. UPS raised their rates too. For Baby Paper, that meant shipping a single item went from under $6 to nearly $8. And that story is playing out in workshops, kitchens, and garages across the country right now, not just here.
France passed a landmark law on Tuesday restricting access to social media for anyone under 15, the first European country to do so.
On July 14, a federal court granted a preliminary injunction in the pending lawsuit challenging California's SB 343, temporarily preventing the state from enforcing the law while litigation continues.
The Libraries Board Game Club is an initiative designed to increase access to play for local communities via their libraries.
This year's Deauville Preshow will see over 130 exhibitors showcasing their 2027 Toys & Games collections to international buyers across the toy industry.
What happens when the toy and game industry, libraries, family entertainment centers, influencers, and families come together around a shared purpose? The answer is the inaugural Play for Resilience initiative!
The Pulse of Play Awards, powered by The Toy Book, celebrate the best in toys, games, retail, and marketing across the business of play.
The returning co-sponsor will offer early-access releases, tournaments, demos, exclusive merchandise, and its fan-favorite claw machine.
The Toy Association™ has announced an exciting lineup of events for LA Fall Preview® Market Weeks, taking place September 14 to 25 in El Segundo, CA.
Time is running out to nominate toy industry trailblazers for the 2026 Toy & Game Innovation Excellence (TAGIE) Awards, presented by People of Play™ (POP), a division of The Toy Association™.
The Toy Foundation™ celebrated the United Nation’s International Day of Play (June 11) with two cause marketing campaigns with Build-A-Bear Foundation and Chuck E. Cheese.
From meetings with lawmakers to hands-on play experiences on Capitol Hill, The Toy Association's 2026 Annual DC Fly-In & Day of Play brought the toy industry together to champion the value of play and advocate for policies that support the industry.
With 61 applications already submitted to date, the deadline for speakers will be Friday 31st July.
Toy Story 5 had the biggest global box office opening of the year and will now be heading to Westfield for the summer holidays with Bonnie’s Playtime The Experience.
Taking place from 2nd-6th February 2027, Spielwarenmesse's returning Specials will continue to inspire international trade audiences.
What was once purely a consumer show continues to connect with the industry.
More than 5,000 licensed products were considered across 12 product categories.
The world's largest toy show introduces a new Manufacturing Services product group.
Dennis entered the toy industry in 1990 when he was appointed Marketing Director of Tonka, were he quickly acclimatized to the peculiarities of our industry. It marked the beginning of a distinguished career that would see Dennis become an influential leader within both the Australian and international toy communities.
Worldwide Magazines Weekly Top Stories
Some stories added Friday afternoon. Check Back for Complete Lists.
Toy Trade Monthly & Special Issues
Adventure Media & Events (US)
Toyworld (UK)
Licensing.biz Powered by Toyworld
ICv2: The Business of Geek Culture (US)
- Wizards of the Coast Announces Upcoming 'Magic: The Gathering' 'Secret Lair x MOTU' Superdrop
- Wizards of the Coast Reveals New Deets for 'Magic: The Gathering - Reality Fracture'
- Six New 'Gundam Assemble' Products Revealed
- Wizards of the Coast Announces New 'Secret Lair x Marvel' Drop Set
- Wizards of the Coast Reveals Three 'Magic: The Gathering' Sets for 2027
- 'Magic: The Gathering - Marvel Super Heroes' Passes 'Lord of the Rings'
- Games Workshop Launches 'Warhammer Academy'
- Rolling for Initiative -- DCC Day and the Season of Magic
- 'Call of Cthulhu: Horror on the Orient Express - The Board Game' Heads to Retail
- Godzilla Emerges in the 'Marvel Multiverse RPG'
Global Toy News
The Bugg Report (Australia)
The Toy Universe (Australia)
hobbyDB
Video of the Week
Avengers: Doomsday | Official Trailer
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