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Toys 'R' Us debuts a new website, but you're really buying from Target
Just in time for the holiday season, the Toys "R" Us website is back, with one big difference: Target is powering the revived ToysRUs.com. When you go to complete a purchase on the latter, it redirects you to Target's website to check out.
Toys 'R' Us could come back with six stores and a website
Following the custom of well-known retailers that went under as a result of leveraged investments and business moving online, Toys R Us is reportedly close to a comeback. According to Bloomberg, a former executive is pitching plans for a chain with locations that are a third of the size of the stores you remember (probably because some of them still remain out there, empty and loom) and, of course, a website. Radio Shack is still around, and while Circuit City's stripped-down relaunch last year didn't go quite as promised, it's still functioning online. Based on the report, Richard Barry is planning to open about half a dozen locations by the holiday season, under the "Tru Kids" entity (consisting of the same lenders it owed) that owns the name. An executive of a toy company is quoted saying the industry will benefit from a self-standing toy store, even though competitors like Walmart and Target have expanded their sections.
After Math: Starting up, shutting down
While the tech industry focused on all of the new shinies Google unveiled on Wednesday, the rest of the world turned. The Supreme Court shut down Kim Dotcom's attempts to get his millions back, Toys R Us made a last ditch effort to save itself from obscurity, and the FCC finally got around to starting the rebuilding process for Puerto Rico's crippled telephonic infrastructure.
Toys R Us: Lucario amiibo pre-orders not being canceled
Numerous Toys R Us customers received emails from the retailer this morning, seemingly canceling their pre-orders for the Lucario amiibo figure. As a Toys R Us spokesperson told Joystiq in a phone conversation today, the emails were part of a "technical issue," and pre-orders for the figure will not be canceled. Toys R Us added via email, "we apologize for any inconvenience that may have been caused pertaining to customers' amiibo pre-orders. Please know that we are working on an email communication to all customers effected, which will provide instructions on how we plan to fulfill their order." The Lucario amiibo was revealed in November as a Toys R Us-exclusive figure, though the retailer's listing for the figure is currently missing from its storefront. Toys R Us was unable to offer specific inventory data for amiibo, but assured that the issue was unrelated to its supply of the figures.
Meta Knight Amiibo exclusive to Best Buy, Lucario to Toys R Us
Where's the fun in collecting something if you can just place a one-and-done order for the entire set with an online retailer? Amiibo fans are in for some legwork (or a few extra clicks), as two more retailer-exclusive deals have been announced concerning February's batch of Amiibos: Meta Knight will reside exclusively at Best Buy, whereas Lucario can only be found between the tall shelves of Toys R Us. This pair of exclusives follows news of Xenoblade Chronicles' Shulk continuing his series' GameStop-exclusive legacy when he arrives in the same set of Amiibos as Lucario and Meta Knight. At least existing partnerships are with mostly-easy-to-locate retailer chains – things will get a little more interesting with the announcement of an Ice Climbers Amiibo, which we assume will only be sold at a rickety shack atop Mount Everest. [Image: Nintendo]
Buy Smash Bros. Wii U, get an amiibo free at Toys R Us
Even if the line of NFC-compatible amiibo toys doesn't eventually reflect Super Smash Bros.' entire roster, buying every figure revealed so far would put you back about $234 (!!!). You can ease into the investment by ordering the game from Toys R Us however, as the chain is offering a free amiibo with the purchase of Smash Bros. on Wii U. The promotion is offered online while supplies last and is activated by placing both a copy of Smash Bros. and an amiibo of your choice in your cart. When we contacted employees at local stores to see if the deal is valid in store however, we received inconsistent answers, so you may want to call your nearest store before stopping in. As for the $99.99 bundle that includes a GameCube-style controller, adapter and a copy of Smash Bros., it's currently absent from Toys R Us' website. We've contacted Toys R Us' PR department to see if the bundle will also eventually be compatible with the free amiibo deal and will update if we hear anything. [Image: Nintendo]
Rumor: Free Pokemon X/Y with purchase of 3DS XL or 2DS and a game
A supposed scan of a Toys R Us ad indicates a new Pokemon X and Y sale is on the horizon. The ad, courtesy of a GoNintendo tipster, states that new 3DS XL or 2DS buyers who additionally pick up one of six games and register their gear on Club Nintendo in March will receive a download code for Pokemon X or Y. The six eligible games buyers may be picking from are Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Yoshi's New Island, Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins, Super Mario 3D Land, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D and Mario Kart 7. As it stands now, there's no confirmation of the deal on either Club Nintendo or Toys R Us' sites. We've reached out to Nintendo for more information and will update as we learn more. [Image: GoNintendo]
Final two Skylanders: Swap Force series 3 figures released
Rubble Rouser and Stink Bomb, the final two Skylanders Swap Force figurines in the third series, have been released and can be found at your local Toys R Us store in the US, Kotaku reports. You may already have a shoebox full of Swap Force characters, but these two characters are of particular interest, as they allow access to the final content in Skylanders: Swap Force. Rubble Rouser, the first earth elemental Skylanders: Swap Force character, is necessary for bypassing certain gates requiring a rocky touch. If a masked gunman is forcing you to choose between Rubble Rouser and Stink Bomb, it's worth knowing that Rubble Rouser's extra content can be accessed during co-op games – those dual-element gates can also be opened by two separate Skylanders playing together. Stink Bomb, on the other hand, is the first character able to unlock Swap Force's sneaking mini-games. If players want to fully experience absolutely everything Skylanders: Swap Force has to offer, Stink Bomb is a must-have character. Skylanders: Swap Force is the latest entry in Activision's toy-driven action platformer series, which converts real-life toys into in-game characters by use of a special portal. Swap Force is the first entry to have figurines with a top piece and bottom piece that can be combined with other Swap Force characters to create new combinations.
Toys R Us restocking PS4, Xbox One in time for Black Friday
Toys R Us is getting a fresh shipment of PS4 and Xbox One consoles, the retailer has announced. Beginning at 12:01am ET tonight, through the Toys R Us website, folks can order a console while supplies last. This is online-only, so don't go banging on the doors of your local brick-and-mortar at midnight tonight. Xbox One will also be available in-store, while supplies last, on Saturday, November 30 on a first-come, first-served basis. Call your local store on Friday to see what the exact plan is for your store. As for Black Friday deals, Toys R Us is offering a Skylanders Swap Force starter kit at $37.49 as well as a Disney Infinity starter kit at the same price. If you pick up Just Dance 4 or Call of Duty: Ghosts, you can snag another game for 50 percent off. The best bargain, though, is a "Buy One, Get One 40 percent Off" promotion that applies to all games, regardless of platform.
Report: Toys R Us' Black Friday deals cut into current-gen bundles
Toys R Us is apparently joining GameStop in bringing a new $200 250GB PS3 bundle to its Black Friday deals, going by scans of a flyer posted at BFAds.net. Like GameStop, the US retailer's bundle includes Batman: Arkham Origins and five-star offering The Last of Us. On the Xbox 360 front, there's a 4GB system with Kinect that's also priced at $200. That bundles in Kinect Sports Season Two, Kinect Adventures, and an additional freebie in the form of Halo 3. Hopping over to the land of Nintendo, the new Skylanders Swap Force 8GB Wii U bundle (which incidentally features Nintendo Land) is going for $260 - that's a chunky $40 saving. There's also a Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon blue 3DS bundle that's down $20 to $150. It's not just about battles between platform holders, though. Starter packs for Skylanders Swap Force and Disney Infinity are at each other's plastic throats too, both priced $37.49. Then, just to remind us of the extensive current-gen library, Toys R Us is reprising its Buy 1 Get 1 for $1 deal from last year. That deal comprises 150 games as wide ranging as Saints Row 3, Sonic Generations, Halo Wars, Batman: Arkham City, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, and Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. If your eye is stuck on this fall's big name games, the retailer also has Buy 1 Get 40 percent off on all the video games. Take that, wallets!
Toys'R'Us hosts Skylanders: Swap Force launch event with exclusive figures
Collectors, prepare to elbow children and topple toddlers as you rush toward the video game aisle at your local Toys'R'Us. The retailer will have a series of limited-edition Skylanders figures on offer during a day-one launch event for Activision's multiplatform Skylanders: Swap Force. Toys'R'Us will stock a store-exclusive Dino-Rang variant, along with Legendary versions of Swap Force stars Free Ranger, Night Shift, Grim Creeper, and Zoo Lou starting on October 13. Select locations will host a midnight launch, while others will open early at 8 AM for the event. Die-hards who pre-order a Skylanders: Swap Force Starter Kit at Toys'R'Us will also receive a Lightcore Hex figure with purchase.
Toys R Us promo code slashes 20% off games
If you're in the market for a new game, Toys R Us is offering a tempting deal this weekend on its stock of all released games. Head over to the Toys R Us site, add some games to your shopping cart, input code FRIENDS20 (one time use!) during checkout and you'll get 20% off. This deal only applies to games that are out now – unfortunately, PS4 and Xbox One consoles and games don't qualify. Still, that'll get you a good discount on Grand Theft Auto 5, Saints Row 4, Madden NFL 25, The Wonderful 101 and many more. The sale, which ends on September 21, not only applies to shipped goods, but in-store pick-up as well.
Toys R Us' 8-inch second-generation Tabeo kids tablet coming in October for $150
Toys R Us, no stranger to the odd controversial lawsuit when it comes to its Tabeo kiddie tablet, has launched an updated version of the white-label slate for the holidays. The Tabeo e2, which is an inch bigger than its predecessor, comes with a dual-core 1 GHz CPU, 1GB RAM and 8GB of in-built storage, which can be bolstered via its up-to 64GB microSD card slot. Up front, you've got an 8-inch 1,024 x 768 multitouch display, displaying Android 4.2, with all of the parental controls and child-friendly apps you'd expect from such a device. If you're looking for something to keep the rugrats occupied whilst you gaze lovingly at your new 4K TV, the e2 will launch in October for $150.
Get Injustice for $35 at Toys R Us until May 4
Injustice: Gods Among Us is on sale at Toys R Us for a mere $34.99, a whopping $25 off its original price. The deal ends on May 4.That's it. We're not sure what else you want from us here. You really should just go play the game and prepare yourself for the Lobo DLC that's coming on May 7. If you still need convincing that this is a pretty rad deal, read our review.[Thanks, Robbie!]
Toys 'R' Us offers 'buy one, get one for $1' game sale, lots more on Black Friday
Toys 'R' Us' Black Friday ad is 32 pages of red and green deals, and as usual, the toy store's got plenty of gaming deals ready for purchase, including a few deals on consoles.The biggest hook is a big "buy one, get one for $1" sale going on, with dozens of games available for a buck each when you buy one at a standard price. In addition to lots of great DSi games, even modern Xbox 360 and PS3 games are on the list, including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more current titles like Dishonored and Need for Speed: Most Wanted. All Wii U games are also "buy one, get one 40% off," so if you want to fill out your library for Nintendo's new console, there you go.Read on for more choice Black Friday offerings. For the complete list of Toys 'R' Us deals, check out the retailer's Black Friday flyer.
Wii U demo kiosks available at US retailers
If you're interested in checking out a Wii U pre-launch – or just interested in finally explaining to someone that it is an actual new console and not just a peripheral – here's your chance. Nintendo reports that over 5,000 Wii U demo stations are present in US retailers, including Target, Best Buy, Toys R Us, GameStop, and Walmart. To find your nearest Wii U demo station, search here.Chances are, however, you can just see your nearest one from your home, if they're all as enormous as the one pictured.
Toys R Us exclusive: Legendary Skylanders Giants figures, alternate versions of others
Skylanders Giants launches October 21, and if you're in the market for some elite figures, you may want to hit up your local Toys R Us. The retailer has the exclusive rights to sell a limited edition 'Legendary' series of Skylanders Giants figurines with special in-game abilities. Toys R Us is also selling an exclusive three-pack featuring Jet Vac, Series 2 Slam Bam and Series 2 Ignitor – all of which have enhanced in-game powers.Though our own review says it's possible to get through Skylanders Giants without buying any additional figures, it's probably not the most realistic expectation – especially if you've you have kids interested in the franchise. Toys R Us will be open early at 8am on Sunday for your Skylanders Giants purchasing needs.
Rovio hints at Angry Birds tie-in with Star Wars on October 8th, Red Bird Five standing by
The green pigs have had their moment in the sun: it's time for the Angry Birds to come back. Rovio Mobile has posted a teaser of a collaboration between its frustrated avians and Star Wars that will get a grand reveal on October 8th at Toys R Us' Times Square location in New York City. No clear giveaways exist as to what's coming, although Rovio is promising animations, comics and other material in the weeks ahead -- we imagine it means more than a toy line, as unique as that can be. But does it mean an Angry Birds Space add-on that goes well beyond the Martian landscape, an entirely new game or something else altogether? We've asked the company for more details and will let you know if we're given more information. In the meantime, get ready for what's likely to be a geek culture explosion. [Thanks, Jaakko]
Toys R Us launches family-friendly internet movie service, plans Tabeo access, HD video and more
Like Amazon, Best Buy and Barnes & Noble before it, Toys R Us is following the path of being a retailer distributing its own branded hardware (Tabeo, Nabi) with an accompanying app store, and then supplementing those offerings with a digital media service. ToysrusMovies.com is a Rovi-powered digital storefront currently available to PCs, Macs and other Flash compatible devices, with an app planned for the Tabeo soon, as well as Blu-ray players, HDTVs and other mobile devices including iOS and Android. The content consists of "more than 4,000" titles from big names like Disney, Fox, NBCUniversal and more, available for 24-hour rental starting at $2.99, and $5.99 for download or streaming. Right out of the gate its scored an early release of Madagascar 3 two weeks before the disc release, currently a $16 purchase with "unlimited" streaming to activated devices, with downloads to up to 5 devices. Now of course, all it needs is some compatible devices, but building an ecosystem is a process, and may be key to separating Toys R Us' offerings from the competition. Check out more details in the press release after the break or at the site.
Children's tablet maker suing Toys R Us over Tabeo design
Currently lawsuits are all the rage in the tech industry, however it's somewhat of a sad day when the ill-effects of corporate hardball trickle down to children's toys. Nabi tablet maker Fuhu filed a lawsuit at a San Diego, California federal court claiming that mega retailer Toys R Us stole its product's trade secrets for the development of its forthcoming Tabeo tablet for children. Fuhu alleges that last year Toys R Us agreed to exclusively carry the Nabi tablet in order to gain access to confidential information before launching a tablet of its own. The partnership between the two companies ended in January and Toys R Us has since announced its plans to release its Tabeo tablet this fall. Fuhu is suing for an undisclosed sum and requesting that Toys R Us relinquish its stock of Tabeo tablets. It's too early to tell if this lawsuit will have an impact on the Tabeo's launch plans, but if Fuhu has its way, Toys R Us will receive a lump of coal and a court order this holiday season. Bah, humbug!
