Glamourous Gaming Within Promoting Barbie: The Movie

Barbie: The Movie is one of the most hyped films of 2023 with a lot of food-related promotions and so on for marketing it quite memorably and it is in cinemas right now [7] [17] [50]! I adored Barbie and owned quite a lot of Barbie dolls when I was a little girl. Moreover, I fondly remember playing Detective Barbie in The Mystery of the Carnival Caper and Secret Agent Barbie for the PC back in the day [41] [70]. In the present day, I see a lot of potential in the live-action film based on her legacy starring Margot Robbie (who also played the role of Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad, The Suicide Squad and Birds Of Prey [12] [61] [67]) and Ryan Gosling (who also played the role of Sebastian “Seb” Wilder in La La Land [32]) as it must be what the notably flawed live-action Bratz film from 2007 could have been [14] [16] [74] [76], according to some mixed to positive feedback so far [33] [36] [45] [56]. Reflecting on the insane number of promotional events for Barbie: The Movie [7] [11] [17] [50], we gamers have acknowledged a few gaming-related ones [8] [27] [68] [71]. Following my current obsession, let us go party like a gamer in honour of the film’s release while our simmers care for horses in The Sims 4: Horse Ranch [1] [65] [66].

I feel like my childhood has been combined with my adulthood when discussing these gaming-related promotions for Barbie: The Movie [9]! [74] [76] I could smile so much that my cheeks will start to ache as if I were Tour Guide Barbie from Toy Story 2 [64]! Please keep your arms, legs and controllers inside the car and no flash photography. Thank you. [74] [76]

Let us start stylishly with the designs of an Xbox Series X|S and faceplates for it controller that were revealed in June alongside a collection of dolls based on the characters in the film [6] [77]. For a limited time, the console with a simple but stunningly bold design can be won on Microsoft Rewards with biddings being given to Save the Children in honour of gender equality for the youth [6] [77]. The five designs of the faceplates for a controller that are also prizes for participants are [76]: 

•       A striking hot pink colour [35] [52] [71]
•       Another lovely shade of pink, but with a pattern of little white flowers [35] [52] [71]
•       A colourful tie dye pattern based on Barbie and Ken’s tie dye outfits in the scene that resulted in a meme that trended on Twitter [35] [40] [52] [71]
•       A black and white pattern based on Barbie’s iconic swimsuit from 1959 [4] [35] [51] [52] [71]
•       A white tassel pattern below two white flowers on a coat of black [35] [52] [71]

A mean gamer can use one of the pink controller faceplates on Wednesdays [13] [42]! It is believed that the faceplates and console promoting the new Barbie film are to help the Xbox Series X|S appeal more to young women, even if they are only a limited number of them available for a limited time [6] [71] [76] [77], but regardless of gender, lucky winners can game on with them. 

Separately from the console, the faceplates come in a box with two Hot Wheels toys based on the pink Corvette and GMC Hummer, a compact mirror that resembles a flip phone from the 2000s and a tube of magenta lip gloss from NYX [35] [52] [76]. How the console even comes with its own dreamhouse to be nicely placed in is an impeccable touch [6] [71] [77]. [6]

Speaking of Xbox Series X|S, a few other surprises came along. An update for Forza Horizon 5 that was released a month ago featured a pink 1956 Chevrolet Corvette based on the one Barbie is seen driving in the main Barbie trailer [2] [57] [74] [76], much like how the sixth level of The Simpsons: Hit And Run had a hidden car in a similar colour and style that can be found at the top of Planet Hype [69]. And I thought the Royale from Mario Kart DS was glamourous, especially for those who love to race as Princess Peach [47], but who said only gamer girls would love driving in the pink Corvette? Surely, the Pink Panther would love to steer it in style [49]. There is also a 2022 GMC Hummer EV Pickup inspired by Ken with a vibrant lightning-like pattern on the side available for the game [68] [71]. Outside of gameplay, a diverse collection of ten special edition dolls wearing Xbox-themed and Forza Horizon 5-themed T-shirts and hoodies, including one in a wheelchair and a pink-haired one with a prosthetic leg can be won by fans [71]. Both vehicles will be available to claim in Forza Horizon 5 until this mid-August and the dolls are also a stylish source of promotional value [68] [71].

The dream in FR5 seems real, 
Like getting onto Sheila’s Wheels [54] [55]! [87]

There are not enough words to describe the importance of diversity and representation. A little more on that claim will be expanded on later. [71]

Over a week ago, a collaboration between Barbie and Stumble Guy began [53] [58]. The designs of Ken and the two Barbies who might as well be nicknamed “Malibu” and “Brooklyn” as legendary stumblers in the game’s art style are cute and quirky in an interpretation of the iconic dreamhouse [3]. Ken and one of the Barbies are also seen coated in a purple colour palette in the trailer [58], quite like a version of an Among Us micro figure from a blind bag being completely coated in gold or a tint of green that glows in the dark [63]. They, along with the other Barbie in a sparkly purple palette are available as mythic stumblers to purchase with enough Barbie tokens that are basically the iconic “B” as in-game currency [53]. Some previous collaborations include the one with Hot Wheels back in December 2022 and the one with the raving Rabbids back in March [59] [60], which makes me believe that Stumble Guys might, unfortunately, rely a little too much on crossovers for relevance and popularity like Fortnite in the near future [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [34]. Nevertheless, now that it is available on consoles [75], our stumblers shall strive through bizarre obstacles with Mattel’s bombshell and possibly some more third-party guests later this year and two [53] [58] [59] [60].

C’mon, Stumbles! Let’s go rumble [53] [58]! 
Ah-ah-ah-yeah [1]! [58]

I know what some of you are thinking. The Barbie-themed event in Stumble Guys is not meant to help market and promote Barbie: The Movie as the main doll franchise’s logo is used and none of Barbie’s outfits from the film are worn in the trailer and the event [53] [58] [72], but since it started during the amount of marking for the film [53] [58], it could still technically count as part of marketing it during all the hype. See the style of the logo on the blonde-haired Barbie’s printed all over her top and skirt [72] [74]? [58]

Between the 13th and 20th of July, there was a sugary collaboration with Candy Crush Saga [8] [20] [22] [27], much like how there was an event in the game promoting Sonic the Hedgehog 2 over a year ago [18] [19] [23] [62]. The cartoony interpretation of Barbie’s movie appearance nailed Robbie’s elegantly structured face to a T [8] [20] [22] [27]. It was utterly adorable how Barbie and Tiffi cosplayed as one another in the SS23 announcement video [20], much like how Hello Kitty and Isabelle from the Animal Crossing franchise dressed up as each other on a poster in Animal Crossing: New Horizons [46]. During the event, there were Barbie candies to collect through Barbie quests [22], much like how Barbie tokens are collected in the collaboration with Stumble Guy [53]. Based on the premise of the film [74] [76], the goal of the event was to help Barbie get to the real world, as hinted in the trailer for it [22] [27]. Surely, Candy Crush Saga is so 2012 and 2013 to some of us [39], but I have nothing against those who still find it relevant and rather addicting ten years later, especially if there happen to be some cute and colourful crossovers for promoting a new film [8] [18] [19] [20] [22] [23]. Is anyone up for some pink candy later [21]?

Adorable peppiness overload! [20]

Barbara Millicent Roberts has been an icon for sixty-four years and is now a quirky live-action movie star learning about how the real world works [4] [9] [36] [56] [72] [74]. Despite the criticisms and controversies surrounding her throughout the years [43], she is still adored by doll collectors and primarily young girls today [11] [37]. There are several female video game characters who would seemingly fit in Barbie Land (at first), such as Princess Peach from the Super Mario franchise, Juliet Starling from Lollipop Chainsaw and Catherine from the game with the same name [24] [25] [47] [48] [73]. Aside from that, these gaming-related promotions for marketing Barbie: The Movie are rather outstanding on their own accords [27] [58] [68] [77]. As an autistic woman who loved Barbie as a child, I would be delighted to see an autistic Barbie doll with some respectfully accurate features, such as ear defenders [37], quite like how we were introduced to a Barbie doll with Down syndrome a few months ago [5]. It will not be long until I go and see Barbie Quinn and Ken Wilder travel to the real world and have their mugshots taken [12] [32] [40] [61] [67]. You can be anything, whether you love Barbie or consider her not your thing [44] [72] [74]. No reference to Burdine Maxwell from the Bratz animated series intended [15]. 

Aside from how excited I am for Barbie: The Movie [74] [76], a high-definition remake of Secret Agent Barbie or a direct sequel to it would be an enlightenment [10] [70]. A slightly more easing sound effect for those lasers would be deeply appreciated. [10]

As for the new film based on the plastic beauty’s legacy, I hope Robbie’s experience in playing the role has left a positive impact on her [9] [74] [76], especially after witnessing Harley Quinn break the fourth wall at the beginning of the trailer for the fourth season of the animated series with the same name [12] [26] [61] [67]. Just look at that beautiful pink Warner Bros. emblem! [74] [76]

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