NEWS

ZAG Games and Toya launch first Miraculous game to Roblox platform

Published on: 20th January 2021

ZAG Games, the games division of the independent animation studio ZAG, has partnered with the Israel-based start-up Toya to create its first game for the Roblox platform for the popular franchise, Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir.

Scheduled for release this April, the new Miraculous Ladybug & Cat Noir adventure quest game will be the first to bring a TV series to the Roblox metaverse – an online experience in which fans interact in 3D simulated virtual environments.

Fans can expect to meet new characters, enter new environments, and engage with new villains, together with a wealth of surprises. ZAG and Toya are planning to engage with fans through an inclusive global game development process that integrates their feedback on ideas and concepts design work before the game is officially released to the public.

Elinor Schops, the ZAG’s newly installed VP of ZAG Games and Interactive Experiences, said: “Miraculous Ladybug is a relatable heroine who sets up a positive, strong and rocking persona – with the ability to transform, figuratively and literally, the world she is living in.

“We believe that the Metaverse that Roblox has built is the ideal place to launch a game that celebrates girl empowerment and exploration, and we want to hand over to these girls (and boys of course) the power to advise how to play the game.

“In every sense, we plan for the game to be led by the community in order to make this into a community game – this is where fans will meet, and role play, in the Miraculous universe.

“Our partner Toya, with its female-led agenda, helps to transform the gaming experience for girls around the world, and we couldn’t have hoped for a better match of agendas and ideas.”

Anat Shperling, CEO and co-founder of Toya, added: “Toya is proud to work with ZAG to develop Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir’s first Roblox gaming experience.

“We are passionate about Roblox being a flexible and inclusive space that allows freedom of expression for adolescents’ inner worlds. We can’t wait to usher the beloved protagonists of the series, Ladybug and Cat Noir, into the Roblox realm, with an inspiring journey that invites global fans into a shared experience in the rich personal space of these admired characters.

“Core to Toya’s mission is developing inclusive gaming experiences that enable girls and boys to express themselves freely in a safe environment. We plan to design a journey that encourages players towards greater freedom of self-expression, and teaches them empowering skills for the outside world, such as time management, and decision-making.

“We couldn’t be more excited to bring this experience to life in partnership with the ZAG gaming team, and with the support of the tremendous global community of Miraculous™ fans and followers.”

ZAG’s first “official” global mobile game for Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir was released in April 2018 and ranked as the number one game in 39 countries with 130 million downloads to date.

The launch of the Roblox game coincides with the debut of ZAG’s second big-budget animated movie, Miraculous World – Shanghai – Lady Dragon. The first of the two TV movies,  Miraculous World: New York: United Heroez, scored top ratings on its premiere in 2020.

Fans are also awaiting the launch of the theatrical feature, Ladybug & Cat Noir: Awakening(US$100M+ budget), which is planned for release worldwide in fall 2021 or at the beginning of 2022, alongside seasons four and five of the series, which are also currently in production.

Expanding the brand’s digital presence, Miraculous is now on TikTok, as well as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. During 2020, Miraculous grew its digital reach by 178 per cent. It currently attracts over 15 million subscribers across its nine official YouTube channels, available in eight languages.

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