Spin Master, the toy company, announced the 'Bitzee' digital pet toy. The Bitzee is similar to a Tamagotchi from the late '90s and early 2000s, but with a modern twist. The original Tamagotchi is a small egg-shaped toy with a 2-inch monocolor screen. These toys house one virtual pet that must be taken care of and fed, but can also be dressed up and played with. However, these virtual pets may grow old and pass away if not taken care of properly.
The Bitzee is a modern rendition of this same gameplay loop. With the Bitzee, users can take care of a floating digital pet that appears as a small hologram, rather than a small bunch of pixels on a 2D screen. Additionally, all Bitzee pets can be unlocked with the same Bitzee toy, rather than needing to purchase multiple in order to collect different pets. The Bitzee also supports a number of games that are unlocked as the user takes care of the Bitzee.
The Bitzee is currently available for preorder at an MSRP of $29.99 USD.
Image Credit: Spin Master
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Digital Pet Toys
- Toy companies can leverage modern technology to create new versions of classic virtual pets like Tamagotchis, with potential features like holographic displays and expanded gameplay.
- Single Toy, Multiple Pets
- Creating a toy that can unlock multiple virtual pets can be a lucrative opportunity for toy companies, since customers don't have to buy multiple toys to access more content.
- Gamified Pet Care
- Adding new game features to virtual pet toys can help keep players engaged and interested in continuing to take care of their pets, as well as driving sales through word of mouth advertising.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Toy Industry
- Toymakers can create and market more digital toy options for customers to purchase, which may lead to increased sales and customer loyalty.
- Augmented Reality
- Experts in AR technology can find ways to incorporate this technology into the creation of virtual pet toys, providing a fuller, more immersive experience that could potentially increase sales for toymakers.
- Game Development Industry
- Game developers can potentially create and release new titles, or new game packs, associated with digital pet toys, offering a new marketing channel for their products and potentially increasing sales.
