All articles tagged with #branding
Microsoft halted the controversial 'This is an Xbox' marketing push after new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma took over, saying the campaign didn’t feel like Xbox and is leading a broader reset of how the brand appears. The move signals a shift toward redefining Xbox’s identity and strategy, with emphasis on broader platforms and cross‑brand initiatives while addressing criticisms of past marketing.
Sony is phasing out the PSN branding this year, with the PSN Service Status page quietly renamed to PlayStation Service Status and branding removed by December 2025; Sony has likely informed developers to drop PSN language in upcoming games, though many users still search for PSN outages and will probably keep using the term.
LA28 unveiled a flower-inspired visual identity for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, centered on the 'Superbloom' motif and 13 blooms representing LA’s culture, neighborhoods and landscape; the palette draws on Bird of Paradise and groups into four families—Poppy, Scarlet Flax, Bluebell and Sagebrush; typography nods to local street signage; the branding is designed to work across venues, digital formats and broadcasts and was developed with design studio Koto, with an unusually early rollout to give partners time to adopt it.
The US Commission of Fine Arts approved a design for a 24-karat gold commemorative coin to mark America’s 250th anniversary, with the coin potentially three inches in diameter. Although living presidents can be barred from currency and a coin-specific panel could block the idea, the U.S. Mint (under the Treasury) can likely authorize it, aided by a favorable CAF member. The move aligns with Trump’s broader gold-and-self-branding push to reshape American aesthetics.
Creative Bloq argues Meta’s 2021 pivot to the metaverse and rebrand has backfired, with Horizon Worlds being shut down and Realty Labs layoffs signaling a retreat from the plan, underscoring how hindsight paints the branding as misguided amid a fading of the metaverse vision.
A Kotaku report citing Insider Gaming says Sony will retire the PlayStation Network (PSN) branding by September 2026, making the change strictly visual across SIE assets; core online features like friends, multiplayer, and trophies will remain unaffected, with evidence visible as PS5 network menus drop the PSN label in favor of just “PlayStation.”
Sony will phase out the PlayStation Network and PSN branding across its assets by September 2026 in a purely visual update; services like multiplayer, friends lists and trophies remain unchanged, with branding guidelines updated following a fall 2026 TRC update and a new network name yet to be announced.
The NFL has named Kraft Heinz its first-ever global condiment partner, with the deal set to begin at the 2026 draft, signaling the league's aggressive monetization of sponsorships and tying a food-brand to NFL branding beyond on-field action.
Under Armour has issued a cease-and-desist to indie streetwear label Vice Lair, alleging its logo bears undeniable similarity to UA's trademarked interlocking U and A and signaling that Vice Lair may need to change its design; the dispute has sparked Reddit debate about brand power versus small designers and reflects UA’s history of enforcing its marks.
Across industries, a global race is on to devise a universal 'human-made' or 'AI-free' label as generative AI disrupts work from film to publishing; dozens of schemes exist—from free badges to paid audits—yet no agreed standard risks confusing consumers. Experts say the path forward requires a transparent, industry-wide certification system that can verify genuine human origin beyond a binary AI/AI-free distinction.
Burger King dominated Oscars 2026 with multiple ads, including a 90‑second mea culpa that pledges changes (firing the old King, reinvesting in restaurants, and improving the Whopper) as part of its premiumization turnaround and direct customer-feedback efforts, signaling a strategic shift even as analysts caution the approach must stay entertaining to keep momentum.
Danhausen’s WWE debut as the mystery crate pull at Elimination Chamber drew a mixed initial reaction, but Fightful Select reports WWE appreciated his quick turnaround and resilience as he subsequently appeared on RAW and SmackDown. WWE’s filing of new trademarks—Girlhausen, Ghoulhausen, and Kidhausen—points to potential expansion of the Danhausen character’s branding in the near future.
The Tennessee Titans unveiled a brighter, simplified new logo that swaps the flame motif for a simple red outline, sparking online debate as fans compare it to the Tesla logo and other pop-culture cues like Captain America.
The Tennessee Titans unveiled a Nashville-inspired rebrand featuring new uniforms and a refreshed logo that blends Oilers-era nostalgia with Tennessee history. The home look uses Titans blue jerseys with white pants, while the road look is white, both with distinctive numerals; a redesigned circular white-on-blue ‘T’ logo with three stars, a Nashville six-string stripe across gear, and a secondary ‘The Football’ mark accompany a ‘We Over Me’ collar tab. The refresh, guided by fan input, signals a new era as the franchise moves toward a new stadium and coaching staff.
Nothing’s design team treats its devices as brand-forward objects that should be instantly recognizable, even “like a logo,” using transparent backs that reveal internal components, retro-inspired styling, and color layered inside the shell. The Nothing Phone 4(a) Pro expands this approach with more visible color and depth, aiming to disrupt a conservative smartphone market by prioritizing recognizable, disruptive design over conventional aesthetics.