When Activision Blizzard’s Emerging Franchises team wanted to make a bold impression on the gaming community, they turned to Thumbprint to help create an influencer kit experience that would speak the language of modern streamers while honoring the nostalgia of the Crash Bandicoot franchise.
The mission: Design and deliver 150 immersive, gamer-approved kits that would get streamers talking and posting about the upcoming Steam launch of Crash Bandicoot 4.
We started where every great gaming session starts: with snacks. Specifically pizza.
Our strategy was to meet the audience where they are. And where they are, usually, is gaming for hours with greasy fingers and an energy drink. So, we leaned into the stereotype.
We created the Aku Aku Steam-In Pizza Shack Kit, a full-on fictional pizza delivery brand inspired by Crash Bandicoot. Our in-house design team crafted an entire visual identity, from logos to packaging. The experience unfolded layer by layer, just like a classic side-scroller.
Influencer fatigue is real—especially in the gaming world. To cut through the noise and generate real buzz, this kit had to do more than look good on camera. It had to stop scrolls, spark nostalgia, and deliver a moment that felt personal to the recipient while still being unmistakably Crash.
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