All articles tagged with #mattel
Mattel's Brick Shop line is releasing a 1:1-scale Microsoft Xbox Building Set, a 3,509-piece replica of the original Xbox and the Duke controller, with illuminated dioramas of Halo, Psychonauts, and Morrowind inside. Pre-orders are live ahead of a October 16, 2026 launch, priced at USD 329.99.
Mattel is releasing a 1:1-scale, 3,509-piece interactive building-brick set of the original Xbox, featuring three removable diorama modules referencing Halo, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, and Psychonauts; the chunky controller activates lighting effects and a game soundtrack on the modules, with a hidden lighting sequence, and pre-orders are open at Amazon, Best Buy, and Mattel Creations for $330.
Mattel is taking preorders for a 1:1, Lego-style replica of the original Xbox. The 3,509-piece build results in a life-sized console with realistic lights and sounds, a working Duke controller, and three dioramas themed around Halo: Combat Evolved, Psychonauts, and The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Shipping starts in October for $330 as part of Xbox’s 25th anniversary, alongside the company’s broader consolidation efforts.
Mattel debuts a Marilyn Monroe Barbie Signature Doll to celebrate the icon’s 100th birthday, inspired by her pink satin gown and Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Priced at $81, the doll releases Aug. 18 in collaboration with The Estate of Marilyn Monroe LLC, continuing a line of Monroe-inspired Barbie dolls that honors her legacy as a fashion and film icon.
Mattel has formed Mattel Game Studios as a subsidiary of Mattel Digital Studios to develop, publish, and operate games based on its brands. The unit will unite about 300 developers in Los Angeles and Hangzhou, oversee Mattel’s mobile portfolio, and create original experiences on Roblox and Fortnite, while integrating the Mattel163 studio (home to UNO, UNO Wonder, Phase 10, and Skip) with new titles like a Hot Wheels game and UNO Wild in development.
Mattel is launching Mattel Game Studios, a 300-strong in-house game development and publishing arm split between Los Angeles and Hangzhou, to create original games based on its iconic brands (including Uno). The studio, under Mattel Digital Studios, has already released Masters of the Universe: Legends Unite and is soft-launching UNO Wild with a Hot Wheels game in development. The move follows Hasbro’s retreat from in-house game development and signals Mattel’s ambition to build a scalable, internal pipeline for games, though success remains uncertain and tied to navigating a notoriously difficult market.
Mattel’s officially licensed Whitney Houston Barbie Signature Doll, designed with input from Pat Houston and inspired by the 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody' video, is now available online for $60 at Amazon and Walmart. Unveiled at the Legacy of Love Gala, the collectible doll features Houston’s iconic 80s look with a purple dress, iridescent heels, beaded earrings, and includes a microphone and mic stand in a collectible window display.
Barbie 2 is in limbo after Warner Bros. negotiations with Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling over salaries and profit-sharing stalled, with Mattel rights possibly reverting if no deal by December.
Barbie’s sequel is reportedly stalled as negotiations over the stars’ pay — including a claimed $20 million upfront for Ryan Gosling and a roughly $50 million earnings base for Margot Robbie from the first film — falter; Warner Bros. Discovery is said to have offered a profit-sharing framework, but no deal has been reached, with rights potentially reverting to Mattel if no agreement by December, keeping the project in limbo.
To celebrate Halo's 25th anniversary, Mattel Brick Shop unveiled a 1:22-scale UNSC M12 Warthog at San Diego Comic-Con, a customizable build with extra parts, decals and metal components plus an exclusive Hot Wheels Warthog; the set includes a code for the Halo: Campaign Evolved Ignition Armor Style for Master Chief. Preorders begin July 23 (US only) and shipping starts October 1, 2026, with an exclusive poster available at the Mattel booth while supplies last.
The Verge argues that both X-Men ’97 Season 2 and Masters of the Universe are nostalgia plays, but X-Men ’97 succeeds by expanding its world and reworking canon to stay fresh, while Masters of the Universe struggles with waning cultural prominence and a underperforming film; the piece suggests lasting franchise health requires more than fan service, as Marvel’s ongoing reinvigoration hints at a stronger long‑term strategy.
Roger Sweet, the Mattel designer who created the He-Man figure that launched the 1980s toy line and cartoon, died at 91 after battling dementia. He developed the He-Man prototype by reworking a Big Jim figure, pitched it to Mattel leadership, and brought He-Man to market in 1982, with the 1983–85 cartoon following Prince Adam’s transformation. The franchise later spurred a reboot film from Amazon/MGM/Mattel, featuring stars like Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Jared Leto, Idris Elba and Alison Brie. He is survived by his wife, Marlene.
The Barbie Dream Fest weekend in Florida is issuing full refunds to attendees after complaints that the event did not live up to its promises, citing a lackluster venue, limited activities, and age-inappropriate experiences; tickets reportedly cost up to $450, with Mischief Management and Mattel coordinating refunds for all purchasers.
Mattel unveiled a global, cross-category Masters of the Universe product line inspired by the upcoming live-action film from Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel Studios. The rollout begins April 25, 2026 and spans toys, collectibles, apparel and publishing, with figures, Barbie-themed items, UNO, Funko figures, Hot Wheels cars, and more from 70+ partners ahead of the film’s U.S. theatrical release on June 5, 2026 (international rollout to follow).
Mattel released 14-inch 'modern-era' versions of six historical American Girl dolls to celebrate the brand’s 40th, updating outfits and hairstyles for today while keeping the 18-inch originals; the changes, intended to complement rather than replace, sparked backlash from some Millennials who say the newer dolls look older and more heavily made-up, prompting discussion about balancing historical education with contemporary appeal.