Skylanders Giants Hits Shop Shelves on 19th October, 2012 | Multi Format | News | 18/10/2012

The sequel to the best-selling kids title in 2011 and best-selling game of 2012 year to date*, Skylanders Giants™, from Activision Publishing, Inc’s., a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. [Nasdaq: ATVI], has already received an endorsement from the Toys“R”Us^® Holiday Hot Toy List.

Skylanders Giants™ builds on the success of its predecessor by dramatically enhancing the magic of bringing toys to life in an exciting virtual experience as first introduced in Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure®. The game features 16 new characters, led by eight Giant Skylanders, who are twice the size of their comrades.  The Giants each have exciting new powers and abilities to match their size.  Joining the Giants are eight new Skylanders, who also feature never-before-seen powers.  Additionally, Skylanders Giants™ introduces new LightCore™ Skylanders that glow when on or near the Portal of Power®—no batteries required.  Fan-favourites from Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure® return as Series 2 characters featuring an all new “Wow Pow” upgrade power as well as the choice of more than one upgrade path. And all your favourite characters from Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure® are 100% compatible with Skylanders Giants™—stats and customisations intact.

“It’s really gratifying that in less than a year, we’ve seen Skylanders go from being an intriguing untested new IP to becoming one of the hottest kids franchises in the world.  And it has been universally acclaimed by parents, kids and critics alike," said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing. “Skylanders is more than just a new piece of interactive entertainment, but a genuinely new kind of thinking in interactive entertainment. The response of the fans has been incredible, and the only way we can return the favour is with a sequel like Skylanders Giants™. This game is all about big:  big creatures, big worlds, bigger ideas. We’re very excited to see Skylanders Giants™ finally hit the shelves.”

Skylanders Giants™ will leap to Wii U with the launch of Nintendo’s new console on 18^th November, 2012 .  In the Wii U version, the game takes clever advantage of the system’s motion and touchscreen controls. Meanwhile, Nintendo 3DS owners will experience a new adventure exclusive to this version.  The storyline features fan-favourites Flynn, Hugo and Cali, and introduces the villainous Captain Frightbeard.

Skylanders Giants™ is developed by Toys For Bob, an Activision studio located in Novato, California. The game is rated PEGI 7+.