Arsenal FC x Aries streetwear collab

+ Avatar: The Last Airbender RPG game is coming, and Fanatics Live acquire collectibles platform Voggt.

We’re here for Edition #30 of the SEG3 Report!

Arsenal FC has partnered with London-based streetwear label Aries for an exciting new clothing collaboration, blending football culture with high fashion. Meanwhile, fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender can look forward to an upcoming RPG game set in the beloved universe, adding another layer of excitement for the series' community. In the business world, Fanatics Live has made a significant move by acquiring Voggt, a leading European platform specializing in live commerce for sports collectibles and trading card games, marking Fanatics' expansion into the European market.

Contents: Edition #30

Let’s get into it…

Paramount and Saber Interactive announce “Avatar: The Last Airbender” action RPG game

Paramount Game Studios and Saber Interactive have announced the development of a new AAA action-RPG based on the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe

This game, described as "the biggest video game in franchise history," is being created in collaboration with Avatar Studios, the division established by the original show creators to expand the Avatar universe

The game will be available on both PC and consoles, offering players the opportunity to control an entirely new Avatar character set thousands of years in the past

Players will be immersed in a vibrant world where they can master all four elements, engage in dynamic combat with companions, and face the challenges of maintaining balance in the world

.While still in early development, the game promises to introduce both new and familiar elements to fans of the franchise

This project represents a significant expansion of the Avatar universe in the gaming world, with developers emphasizing their commitment to creating an immersive and authentic experience for fans

Why You Should Care

The collaboration with Avatar Studios aims to create an immersive experience that resonates with the established lore of the franchise, catering to both new players and long-time fans.

Avatar: The Last Airbender will feature an original story set thousands of years in the past, allowing players to embody a new Avatar and master all four elements while engaging in dynamic combat.

The popularity of the Avatar franchise is further evidenced by the success of Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game, which raised nearly $10 million through Kickstarter, making it one of the most funded tabletop RPG campaigns ever. This campaign attracted over 80,000 backers, showcasing a strong interest in games set within the Avatar universe. However, despite its initial funding success, the subsequent sales of the game’s PDF version have been underwhelming, indicating a potential disconnect between initial hype and ongoing interest.

Overall, the combination of a beloved franchise and the promise of innovative gameplay mechanics positions this new RPG as a highly anticipated title. As it continues to develop, expectations remain high for how it will expand the Avatar universe and engage its dedicated fanbase. The collaboration between experienced developers and original creators suggests a commitment to quality that could lead to substantial popularity upon release..

Arsenal x Aries streetwear collab

Arsenal Football Club has partnered with London-based fashion label Aries to launch a new clothing collection.

The campaign features key Arsenal players such as Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Alessia Russo, Beth Mead, and musicians Ghetts, Knucks, and Lava La Rue.

Arsenal's increasing involvement in the fashion world is highlighted by this collaboration, following the on-pitch kit collaboration with Adidas and LABRUM, and their hosting of LABRUM's Spring/Summer 2025 show at London Fashion Week.

The collection is aimed at the "Arsenal Faithful," blending football and fashion in this latest venture.

Why you should care?

I once heard another commercial manager in football speak about the freedoms afforded to Arsenal within their Adidas partnership, with a tone that can only be described as a combination of envy and joy.

It’s partnerships like this that show us why. First, the content: The "Arsenal Faithful", hype video is sick; on par with the Adidas x Man Utd You Can't Beat An Original”, earlier this year. They have backed up this video with Behind the Scenes, 3rd Party editorial coverage, player’s interviews and beyond.

Beyond the content, there are obvious commercial benefits, such as increasing both the quality of purchase opportunities and the relevance of these products to a wider audience.

Football clubs traditionally focus on their on-pitch kits, with colour variations — home, away, third — and cost — match, replica, T-shirt — as their signature products to push annually. In recent years, we've seen more obvious attempts to make a match kit "cool" (e.g., with the addition of millennial pink).

The Arsenal x Aries collection opens up an entire collection of “cool” products, creating something accessible for people who want to rep the brand but aren’t football kit people.

(Editors Note: I bought the scarf and the long sleeve. Sorry, had to.)

Fanatics Live Acquires the Assets of European Live-Commerce Platform, Voggt

Fanatics Live, the live commerce division of U.S.-based digital sports platform Fanatics, has acquired the assets of Voggt, a leading European live-commerce platform specializing in collectibles. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in France, Voggt has grown to become the market leader in Europe for live selling of sports collectibles and trading card games, with a community of more than half a million members. The acquisition marks Fanatics Live's entry into the European market as it expands internationally, targeting collectors in France and Germany.

Fanatics Live, which launched in 2023, focuses on live selling of sports collectibles, a process known as "breaking" in the collectibles space, and has quickly built an engaged audience in the U.S. With this acquisition, Fanatics Live aims to further grow its global presence and enhance the experience for collectors. The company has already established major partnerships with global sports organizations, including UEFA, the NFL, NBA, and Premier League, with plans to expand into the UK market in 2025.

Fanatics Live CEO Nick Bell expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, highlighting Voggt's strong platform and community. Voggt’s CEO, Quentin Lopes, also expressed excitement about joining forces with Fanatics, stating that the collaboration will enhance the platform and further revolutionize the collectibles space. The acquisition will see Voggt's employees remain in their current locations, and for the time being, the platform will continue to operate under the Voggt brand.

Why you should care

The acquisition of Voggt by Fanatics Live is set to significantly impact the sports collectables market in Europe by expanding Fanatics' reach into new territories. With access to Voggt's established user base of over 500,000 members, primarily in France and Germany, Fanatics can quickly establish a strong presence in the European market. This move also includes plans for a UK launch in 2025, allowing Fanatics to introduce its extensive portfolio of sports partnerships and products to a broader audience.

The integration of Voggt’s platform with Fanatics Live’s resources is expected to enhance the user experience for collectors in Europe. This collaboration will likely result in a more robust platform for live shopping, increasing engagement within the community. Additionally, Fanatics' partnerships with over 900 sports clubs and organizations globally will provide European collectors with a wider range of collectables, enriching the overall market offerings.

However, the acquisition also presents challenges that Fanatics must navigate. Adapting strategies to meet the unique preferences of European collectors will be crucial, as these may differ from those in the US. Furthermore, operating across multiple countries may involve regulatory compliance issues that need careful management.

Overall, this acquisition shows that Fanatics Live is still eager to be a formidable player in the European sports collectables market. Now we get to wait and see how they execute.

In other news this week…

Here is a quick round-up of other stories you should be across from the past 7 days:

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