Rovio is not done expanding the Angry Birds universe. Today they announced the next chapter in the Angry Birds saga: Angry Birds Stella. In a new blog post on Tumblr this morning, Rovio gave us some details on the new Stella line, which is more than just a new Angry Birds game.
“Angry Birds Stella is breaking the mould by introducing strong, passionate characters who really stand for something, while adding plenty of action and reality into the mix,” said Rovio CEO Mikael Hed. “The Angry Birds Stella story will live and evolve across physical and digital, bridging them in fun and innovative ways.”
Angry Birds Stella is based on the pink character that was introduced in Angry Birds Seasons, and also appeared in Angry Birds Go! The new Stella characters are going to be used in new games, toys, books, and merchandise. The new birds will probably show up in the upcoming Angry Birds movie, which is set to be released on July 1st of 2016. Official release dates for any new Stella games or merchandise haven’t been announced yet.
Rovio remains one of the top mobile gaming developers. The brand is incredibly recognizable, and Angry Birds is up there with Candy Crush Saga and Clash of Clans as one of the top grossing mobile games ever. Angry Birds Stella is another move into spin-offs and licensed merchandise that Rovio hopes to capitalize on. The Angry Birds Toons TV channel has moved beyond just Angry Birds videos and now hosts TV shows and shorts from other companies. Several Angry Birds games have been released alongside toys as well.
Rovio is making big moves. The company has not reported their 2013 financials yet, but 45% of their entire 2012 revenue came from selling merchandise and toys. T-shirts, plush dolls, and more have pushed Rovio far beyond just mobile gaming. With a movie in the works and continuing to expand the Angry Birds line with new characters like Stella, the company is positioning to further embed itself into the lives of fans of all ages.