All articles tagged with #toys
Amazon's October Prime Big Deal Days (Oct 6-7, 2026) featured significant discounts on toys, particularly LEGO sets, with markdowns up to 40% on popular franchises like Harry Potter and Star Wars.
Major shareholder Ariel Investments has formally urged Mattel’s board to consider a sale or merger, arguing that a strategic buyer would pay a significant premium over the current share price. The toymaker, which saw its stock drop 19% year-to-date, is navigating a leadership transition with Roger Lynch set to become CEO. While Mattel acknowledged the letter and stated it would consider the views, the company has struggled with declining sales since the 2023 Barbie film. Recent reports of a $6 billion takeover interest from Authentic Brands have already caused a 20% spike in Mattel’s shares, highlighting investor interest in the brand despite operational challenges.
Bandai marks Tamagotchi's 30th anniversary with a 28mm wearable ring featuring a 0.56-inch color display, three metallic finishes, two side buttons, and charging via an accompanying case; it revives 30 characters plus a secret egg and is Japan-exclusive.
McDonald’s is launching a SpongeBob x One Piece Happy Meal in the U.S. starting Sept. 15, featuring 15 exclusive toys that reimagine Bikini Bottom characters as members of the Straw Hat crew. The cross-brand collaboration, available for a limited time at participating locations, marks the latest in a string of fast-food mashups (following Hello Kitty x Godzilla and Wendy’s SpongeBob tie-ins) that blend anime and cartoon franchises with kids’ meals.
Lego posted record first-half 2026 revenue of 41.9 billion DKK (~$6.54B), up 21% YoY, with operating profit up 22% to 10.9 billion DKK, driven by a broader product lineup (including Smart Play) and new partnerships (Pokémon, Epic Games/Fortnite, F1, FIFA) plus 332 new sets launched to appeal to kids and adults across a wide price range.
Lego’s $200 Donkey Kong arcade cabinet includes a functional Jumpman game with a joystick and jump button; a barrel-pump mechanism stores 20 barrels and cycles up to six down the track to a hopper for an endless loop. Nintendo reportedly asked heavier poison barrels, and Miyamoto is said to be happy with the execution; it launches August 1.
Hasbro announced a licensing partnership with Nintendo to create Legend of Zelda toys, with a 2027 launch and an initial reveal of three 6-inch figures at San Diego Comic-Con. The news arrives as Zelda marks its 40th anniversary, alongside a 2026 remake of Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2 and a May 7, 2027 live-action Zelda movie on the schedule.
Facing a seven-figure tariff on Chinese-made board games, WS Game Company tried to produce Monopoly Americana Edition in the U.S. but couldn’t source 10,000 dice domestically due to the specialized machinery and investment required; while the board and metal tokens were made in the U.S., the dice had to be imported, and the rest of the game took more than a year to assemble, raising costs and causing the launch to miss part of the birthday season with a retail price around $80. With about 80% of U.S. toys made in China, the company still awaits a $6 million shipment of other games from China for the holidays.
Prime Day is slashing prices on a wide range of Lego sets, with many items 20% off across Technic, Star Wars, Botanicals, Super Mario, Architecture, Disney, Harry Potter, and more. Highlights include Lego Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System at $47.99 (a new all-time low), Imperial Star Destroyer at $111.99, and Lego Botanicals Flower Bouquet at $33.59; dozens of sets are on sale, including several under $10, while Pokémon and Smart Play sets are not currently included. The sale runs through June 26, with some deals also showing up at Walmart.
Mashable highlights the best Prime Day Lego deals, with big discounts across Technic, Botanicals, Architecture and more, including Lego Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System for $47.99 (save $12), Lego Lotus Flowers for $7.99, and Lego Botanicals Flower Bouquet for $33.59.
The U.S. CPSC recalls about 70,410 GOPO TOYS Pull String Teething Toys because the silicone strings do not meet required length limits, creating a choking/respiratory hazard as they can reach the back of a child’s throat. Consumers should stop using the toy, destroy it by cutting all strings and marking the toy, and contact GOPO Toys for a full refund. Recall date: June 18, 2026. Sold on Amazon from Aug 2023 through Mar 2026. Batch numbers 250905, 250530, 250120, 240315, 231005, or 230610 appear on packaging.
The Brick Fan’s June 2026 update shows the LEGO Retiring Soon list has grown to about 85 items (roughly 80 actual sets), with several already sold out or backordered. The highlight is The Legend of Zelda: Deku Tree, which is now gone from major retailers (Target sold out; Walmart still has some stock). The post catalogs affected sets across many themes with prices, noting availability varies by retailer as the retirement wave continues.
Lego announces its largest set ever—a 12,060-piece replica of Barcelona’s Sagrada Família—to mark Antoni Gaudí’s death centenary; the towering model, over two feet tall and priced at $800, goes on sale in November with pre-orders now open, while the real basilica continues to be unfinished after more than a century of construction.
A Chinese online retailer Temu was fined $232 million over unsafe toys and electronics sold on its platform, highlighting heightened regulatory scrutiny of online marketplaces and potentially leading to recalls or safety improvements for products sold through the site.
A senior golden retriever who never had toys is delighted by new treasures, proudly showing off his playful haul and proving enrichment can brighten an older dog's days.