Kuala Lumpur, 7 July 2021 – Earlier this year, Mattel (NASDAQ: MAT) announced its global celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of UNO! The campaign kicks off in Malaysia to celebrate UNO: the number one game in the world[1] that fosters inclusive play and leans into the culture.
Conceived in 1971 in a barbershop in Cincinnati Ohio, the iconic card game was created as a way for families to spend time together, and quickly became a household staple. Five decades later, UNO®, now available in over 80 countries and with 17 decks sold every minute, has grown into a global sensation that offers fans of all ages a variety of innovative card based and digital games.
“For 50 years, UNO has brought people together by transcending language, culture, and age through gameplay. As the number one game in the world, we’ve maintained its origins of a beloved family pastime, while evolving into a cultural phenomenon,” said Ray Adler, Global Head of Mattel Games. “Combining the brand’s roots of inclusivity and simplicity, the passionate global fan base, and unprecedented momentum, UNO’s 50th anniversary is a yearlong celebration of the brand’s past, present, and future.”
The brand is celebrating 50 years of bringing people around the world together through:
COMMEMORATIVE PRODUCTS AND NEW WAYS TO PLAY
This year, UNO has released one of the brand’s largest product lines offering new twists on gameplay, with products available for purchase beginning this month.
- UNO 50th Anniversary Premium Card Set: This premium item is the official celebratory product and collector’s item for the 50th anniversary. Contained in deluxe-box packaging is an exclusive gold coin commemorating the 50th anniversary, and the set also features a special “50/50” card rule, which incorporates the coin into gameplay.
- UNO 50th Anniversary Card Deck: The celebration continues with the UNO 50th Anniversary Card Deck, which has “gold” wild cards to commemorate the special anniversary.
- UNO Iconic Series (coming Fall 2021): Starting with the groovy 1970s, the UNO Iconic Series will include five individual decks honouring the last five decades, featuring nostalgic designs that represent each time period.
- UNO Remix: UNO Remix is the first UNO game that evolves with every hand you play. It plays like classic UNO, but at the start of each round, you’ll add special remix cards into the deck that change the game. When it’s all over, you’ll have created a customised UNO deck unique to you.
- UNO Attack: Since 1998, UNO Attack has been a fan favourite, and an all-new updated version of the beloved card-launching extension brings added action with lights, new sounds, and cards that fly even higher.
To mark the moment, all 2021 new products will feature the new UNO 50th anniversary look, including a new logo and a new tagline – Fifty Years of Being Wild™.
UNO™ CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Starting on 2 July, UNO fans can join in the celebration of Fifty Years of Being Wild™! UNO will be hosting the inaugural UNO™ Championship Series, a series of events and promotions. One player will ultimately be crowned the first-ever UNO™ World Champion!
The UNO™ Championship Series will bring together fans from around the world to participate in the global UNO Mobile Tournament through the UNO!™ app by Mattel 163, available for download on the App Store and Google Play[2]. To officially enter the tournament, players can click on the “UNO Championship Series: Mobile Tournament” card in the lobby to enter and play in the tournament, when they are on the app.
To make things even more exciting, select participants of the UNO Mobile Tournament may be invited to Las Vegas, NV, for the UNO™ Championship Series Invitational Tournament, an in-person celebratory event taking place on 11 November, for a chance to win the grand prize of $50,000![3] To learn more about the UNO™ Championship Series, visit the UNO website.
EXCITING PROMOTIONS
Fans of the popular card game can join in the celebrations for the golden anniversary with exclusive 50th Anniversary gift-with-purchase offers.
- UNO 50th Premium Box: Perfect for collectors and UNO enthusiasts, this sleek and portable UNO box is a great way to store your UNO decks and bring them along for a party with friends and family! From 1 July onwards, simply spend a minimum of RM150 on any Mattel Games toys to redeem a limited-edition UNO box (Premium) worth RM59.90, available at leading toy specialty, bookstores, departmental stores, and Mattel’s official online channels, while stocks last. Terms and conditions apply.
- UNO 50th WILD Card: Ever dreamt of coming up with your own rules for the game? With these UNO Blank Wild Cards, you can add a personal touch to the game with your very own wild card! From1 July onwards, customers can redeem an UNO Blank Wild Card with a minimum spend of RM50, available at leading toy specialty, bookstores, departmental stores, and Mattel’s official online channels, while stocks last. Terms and conditions apply.
UNO is available now at Toys ‘R’ Us stores, leading toy specialty, bookstores, departmental stores, and Mattel Official Shopee Mall and Lazada Mall websites. Visit the UNO website for more information, and follow @UNO on Instagram and Facebook @realUNOgame on Twitter for future updates.
[1] Source: The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service/G11/Jan-September 2020/Games & Puzzles Supercategory/Units
[2] Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC. Apple, the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions. App Store is a service mark of Apple, Inc.
[3] NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Sponsor reserves the right to change the tournament to a virtual event. Tournament is an invite-only event and only individuals who receive an invitation from sponsor will be permitted to participate. Additional details about the tournament will be provided at the time when invitations are distributed. Individuals invited to participate will be required to agree to a participation agreement and tournament play rules during registration or will be disqualified. Void where prohibited.
