“With connected play on track to increase nearly 200% in less than four years, combined with the exponential growth across augmented reality, voice and robotics, we will see more connected ways for kids and families to play, learn and genuinely have fun together,” said TechUp’s Valerie Vacante.

“We are developing a game that will deeply resonate with Die Hard enthusiasts, incorporating even the slightest details to create a rich and entertaining experience that properly pays tribute to arguably the greatest action movie of all time,” said USAopoly’s Pat Marino.

Heayes Design and PlayLenz’s Richard Heayes takes a look at the booming market for adults buying toys and games, and why toy firms, and designers, should take note.

Nominations are now open for the Play Creators Awards, taking place at the 2019 Play Creators Festival.

Creative consultant Deej Johnson looks at how toy and game firms and designers can benefit enormously from embracing a theoretical one-star review of their ideas.

Celebrating the opening night of DISTOY, we’ll be uniting the toy and game industry on Tuesday, May 28th for a night of networking, boozing and quizzing at London’s Jerusalem Bar.

The grown-up games night will celebrate with a menu of Board Game Club favourites from the past five years as well as some newer titles.

We caught up with TOMY’s senior concept and design manager, Chris Huisman, to learn more about the design process behind Ritzy Rollerz, and why “the sky’s the limit” when it comes to the brand’s future.

The award, first launched in 1988, stands for International Designer and Inventor of Toys and is given as a tribute to luminaries who have made outstanding contributions to the toy industry.

As one of the industry-leaders when it comes to working with outside innovators, we caught up with Hasbro’s Senior Director of Global Product Acquisition, Rich Mazel, to discuss why he believes diversity of thought is key to unearthing creativity.