'Star Wars' is among the most financially successful franchises in the history of mass media, and the new BB-9E toy shows that the Disney-fueled juggernaut is showing no signs of stopping. The officially licensed toy from Sphero gives fans a sneak peak of a character from the upcoming film in the latest iteration of the franchise.
BB-8 was the adorable R2-D2-esque droid for the newest series of Star Wars films, but the producers seem to have decided to match the rolling robot with a dark counterpart. According to Sphero's site, "BB-9E is a menacing Astromech Droid of the First Order," meaning that it fights for the dark side.
As with Sphero's earlier BB-8 and R2-D2 toys, the BB-9E toy can be controlled through an app on one's smartphone, where users can roll it through holographic simulations.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Licensed Film Merchandise
- The popularity of franchises like 'Star Wars' creates opportunities for companies to create licensed merchandise based on the films.
- App-controlled Toys
- Toys that can be controlled through an app on a smartphone provide opportunities for companies to create new and innovative products in the toy industry.
- Dark Counterparts
- Creating dark counterparts to popular characters can provide opportunities for companies to offer new and unique products to fans.
Where This Applies
- Toy Industry
- The success of app-controlled toys like Sphero's BB-9E presents opportunities for companies in the toy industry to innovate and create new products.
- Entertainment Industry
- The popularity of franchises like 'Star Wars' presents opportunities for companies in the entertainment industry to create licensed merchandise and capitalize on the success of the franchise.
- Mobile App Industry
- The demand for app-controlled toys presents opportunities for companies in the mobile app industry to create innovative products and diversify their offerings.
