PAWTUCKET, RI – June 2023 –
The wait is over… the furb-nomenon that took over the world has returned.
Today, Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS), a global
leader in play, announced that the next era of
the cute, cool, and weird Furby interactive toy hits shelves just in
time for summer. A new generation of kids can discover their own
curious little
creature and kindred spirit, that’s sure to be their next BFF. With a
history of disrupting pop culture and the toy aisle, Furby reminds kids
that they can be their hilarious, wacky, perfectly imperfect selves,
because that is what makes them – and the world
– a little more special. Furby is available now in two new colors,
Purple and Coral, on
Amazon and will be at all major
retailers starting July 15.
"Following its craze-inducing launch in 1998, Furby has taken the world
by storm, impacting every corner of the culture zeitgeist, from music to
television and film," said Kristin McKay, vp & general manager,
Hasbro fashion & preschool. "For the brand’s 25th
anniversary, we wanted to ignite the same excitement for this new
generation by harnessing Furby's power of nostalgia while giving Gen
Alpha everything they crave.”
This
incredibly interactive toy friend features 5 voice activated modes and
over 600 responses to discover, including lights, sounds, and 10 unique
songs. Want
to speak a secret language that only you and your bestie can
understand? Feel like breaking out into a random dance? Need a moment to
just pause everything, chill out and recharge? Furby does all of that
and so much more. Tell Furby what you want to do with
5 commands – “Dance Party,” “Copy Cat,” “Tell My Fortune,” “Let's Chill,” or “Lightshow” – for
an un-fur-gettable time that matches any mood or vibe.
“Over the past few years,
we’ve done a lot of research to understand what kids would want to see in a new Furby,”
said Kristin McKay. “Through this research, kids told
us that it was important for Furby to be their ultimate best friend – a
furry companion to do all the things a BFF would do, like dance to
music, share fortunes, meditate, mimic
each other in silly voices, and even put on a light show, and that’s
exactly what we created.”
Furby
also responds to hugs, pats, belly tickles, shaking, and feeding of its
pretend Pizza Charm, yum! Kids can care for Furby by feeding them,
combing their furhawk, and dressing
them up with the included clip-on beads and fashion accessories. Don’t forget to comb and style that iconic fur for even more best friend moments.
The more playtime with Furby, the more fun they can unlock.
During a time of major digital disruption in the late 90s, Furby
instantly became one of the toy world's biggest and most iconic
launches, with over 40 million units globally in the first three years.
With realistic ear wiggles, iconic expressive eyes, and
even its own language called Furbish, Furby was more than just a toy...
it was a personality meant to make you believe it was alive. It sparked
a collector craze which drove auction prices above retail prices and
was even banned from the National Security
Agency (NSA) premises in Maryland. Furby was cool, cute, and loveably
weird – a combination that kids and the world needed. Over the years,
Furby has remained a unique symbol of self-expression for fans across
the globe due to the immense and growing fandom
that has taken Furby from just a toy to an imaginative brand and
lifestyle. Early reads from consumers and retailers on this newest
iteration of Furby are very positive and show us that fans are just as
excited as we are!
