“A sold-out TOTY Awards gala underscores the health and vitality of the toy manufacturing and retail community as we focus on building successes in year ahead together,” said Steve Pasierb, president and CEO of The Toy Association.

“We’re creating a new type of play where the physical world actually influences the AR layer, instead of the other way around,” said LEGO’s Tom Donaldson.

“The games category is another avenue to deliver pop culture to our ever-growing fan base,” said Funko president Andrew Perlmutter.

We asked figures in the toy and game design community for their thoughts on Tru Kids Brands, and the potential return of Toys R Us.

Against a backdrop of new regulation, evolving consumer expectations, and global sustainability initiatives, Mark Robertson, SVP at the Ethical Toy Program, explains why now is the time to embrace ethical manufacturing.

We caught up with May to learn more about her journey to date with Quirk!, and how an online hub for the game is in the pipeline.

We caught up with Big Potato’s Tristan Hyatt-Williams to find out why people are excited about the return of Blockbuster (even if only in party game form).

This session will shine a spotlight on how emerging tech is set to shape the toys and games of the future and look at how it’s already changing the ways in which kids (and big kids) play.

“We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to write the next chapter of Toys R Us by launching a newly imagined omni channel retail experience for our beloved brands here in the US,” said Tru Kids’ Richard Barry

We caught up Rope to learn more about his journey to date with JUNKO, and what’s next for his eco-friendly toy brand.