Activision announced today that Skylanders, its popular video game franchise which brings to life to action figures in a virtual world, has generated more than $1.5 billion in worldwide retail sales life-to-date (as of July 31, 2013). Its related toy figures have much to do with that number as Skylanders figures outsold all action-figure properties in the U.S. and Europe year-to-date in 2013, while outpacing all toy properties overall in the U.K.
“We began something very special with Skylanders, and the magic of bringing toys to life through a video game,” said Activision CEO Eric Hirshberg. “But it’s not just about the game. We know the toys have to be just as creative and imaginative as the kids that play with them, and that’s why we’re so excited to bring even more innovations to this genre when Skylanders SWAP Force comes out in October.”
But while Skylanders Giants — the #1 best-selling console and hand-held game overall in dollars — has enjoyed a lengthy period of being the only type of game that combines toys and video games, Skylanders SWAP Force faces much stiffer competition with the arrival of Disney Infinity, which is due out this Sunday, August 18. Like Skylanders, Disney Infinity takes toys based off of Disney and Pixar's most iconic franchises and brings them together in a video game where you can play with them in their own separate themed world or bring them together in a world created by you.
Will Disney Infinity weaken the sales success of Skylanders?
