News coincides with Subway Surfers merchandise hitting retail, social gaming launch and more.
Boasting over 2.7b downloads around the world, Subway Surfers was named the most downloaded mobile game of the decade by App Annie, closing out a strong year for Sybo and Kiloo and setting the stage for 2020.
This latest accolade coincides with the debut of apparel from Subsurf, the brand’s consumer and lifestyle merchandising arm, which hit UK retailer Next this week. Subway Surfers Airtime, the first franchise extension, will be released by the end of this month worldwide on Snap Games, Snapchat’s real-time multiplayer gaming platform. Among the first games available on the Snap Games platform, Subway Surfers Airtime is the first of many ways that Sybo will further explore the Subway Surfers brand.
“We’ve hit several incredible download records over the years, yet this App Annie report naming Subway Surfers the most downloaded mobile game of the decade is truly epic,” said Mathias Gredal Nørvig, Sybo Games’ CEO. “We’ve pioneered many new programmes this year, with partners including Google and SnapChat, as well as our master toy licensee Alpha Group. The coming year promises to be spectacular.”
At NY Comic Con, Sybo and publisher iDreamsSky previewed a new AR app, Mark AR, which utilises new ARCore technology built by Google, and allows users to create and share their Subsurf AR art with friends and followers in real-world locations. With Persistent Cloud Anchors, users can return to their pieces as they create and collaborate over time, ‘gamifying’ the creative experience. Closed beta is planned for January, with various pop-ups planned until it launches wider in mid-2020.
Additionally, Sybo took an active role in the Playing for the Planet initiative by the United Nations. 21 companies are representing 970m gamers globally, all of whom have pledged to actively use their platforms to take meaningful action in the fight against climate change.
Additional exclusive Subsurf designed T-shirts will debut in January at UK retailer Tesco. In the summer of 2020, the first products from global master toy licensee Alpha Group will debut globally. Figures, vehicles, plush, toyetic accessories and more. A retailer announcement is planned for late spring.
