As we step into spring, the Solarpop team has plenty of exciting updates to share. From trade show highlights to product arrivals, there’s lots happening to set us up for a strong festive season.
🌟 First up, a big thank you to everyone who connected with us at SARCDA. It’s always inspiring to see the retail community come together, and we’re excited about the opportunities that lie ahead from these conversations.
🎉 Hot off the truck – Dr. Squish has officially arrived! Stock will be heading out to stores soon, just in time to make a splash at Comic Con Africa later this month. We can’t wait for fans to get their hands on this squishy, creative craze.
🛠️ And get ready – our brand-new Gamegenic displays are on their way and will be rolling out to stores soon. These striking units will bring premium visibility and shopper appeal to one of the fastest-growing accessories brands in the hobby world.
🎪 Heading to Comic Con Africa? Come say hi! Visit Unplug Yourself and Solarpop in the Unplug Yourself Tabletop area, stroll through Tabletop Alley for live demos and highlights, and bring the family to KidsCon for hands-on fun at the Dr. Squish and Freak Marble sections. We can’t wait to see you there!
This month’s Top of the Pops track is all about the joy of outdoor play — just like Mölkky! With a breezy, upbeat rhythm and a touch of playful flair, it perfectly captures the feeling of friends gathering in the sunshine, setting up the pins, and cheering each other on. It’s light, fun, and full of spring vibes — the ultimate soundtrack for getting outside and making memories.
Discover all the hot new items that open for pre-order today!
These awesome pre-orders and ALL others launching this week can be found here:
Click hereCatch pre-orders closing next week and take advantage of any pre-order incentives that may be on offer for them!
Please view all our Pre-Orders Expiring soon here:
Click hereView all the promotional deals currently running across our entire product range!
🎲 ON PROMOTION: Spring Into Play! 🌸🕹️
Shake off the winter chill and step into a season of sunshine, strategy, and seriously good games! Our Spring into Play promo is here — and it’s blooming with fresh picks for every kind of player.
Whether you're plotting your next big game night, looking to refresh your shelves, or just love discovering hidden gems, this hand-picked lineup will have you rolling, racing, and rivalling your way into the new season.
🌼 From family favourites and party starters to deeper strategy titles, there’s something for every mood and every table.
📆 Promo runs 22 August – 25 September Don’t miss your chance to stock up, show off, and SPRING INTO PLAY!
Final chance to get these items (at amazing prices) before they are gone for good!
Go explore all our Clearance items:
Click hereInsights from our expert in Role-Playing Games & specialty Board Games
Long before I was a board gamer, I was a video gamer, and one of young Terry’s favourite games was 1994’s DOOM 2. No, I don’t know what my parents were thinking when they let me play it either, but it remains one of my favourite games 30-odd years later. So when Modiphius Entertainment announced 2 new DOOM board games at Gen Con I couldn’t get on board the hype train fast enough.
Strictly speaking, DOOM - Arena Board Game and DOOM: The Dark Ages - Arena Board Game are more like 2 variations on the same game – one based on the original early 90’s games and one based on the franchise’s most recent title. While the rules and mechanics are the same, each version will come with its own set of expansions and its own unique weapons and enemies, from the majestic Dragon Serrat to the vile Spider Mastermind. Designed to be both competitive and quick to learn, the games will see players facing off as either the Doom Slayer or the Demonic Hordes, ripping and tearing their way across a variety of battlefields. With a game lasting only 3 rounds, this is more like heavy metal speed chess than a traditional game of miniature combat.
Sadly, there’s no official release date yet but based on what we do know we can expect the DOOM Arena Board Games to hit retail sometime in late 2026.
Hear from Solarpop’s resident expert in Board Gaming & Miniature Gaming!
This article was inspired by a recent chat I had with a friend about Comic Con. For context, he’s only ever attended Comic Con Cape Town, and this year will be his first time experiencing its bigger sibling, Comic Con Africa. Thinking that Cape Town was “as big as it gets,” he was surprised when I explained that, as epic as our local conventions are, there are even larger international events. Among them are Spiel in Germany, and the undisputed Everest of tabletop conventions: Gen Con.
From his puzzled expression, it hit me, many South Africans may not know about Gen Con or the massive influence it has on the tabletop gaming industry. So, I thought I’d share a little background.
Gen Con has humble beginnings. The first event took place in 1968 in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, hosted by none other than Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax. The name “Gen Con” is short for “Geneva Convention,” both a nod to its hometown and to the famous diplomatic summits.
What started with just a few hundred attendees quickly grew alongside the rise of role-playing games and board games. By the 1980s, Gen Con had become a central hub for RPG publishers, miniature enthusiasts, and up-and-coming designers. The convention later moved to Milwaukee, and in 2003 found its permanent home in Indianapolis, Indiana, where it now takes over the vast Indiana Convention Center, and spills into nearby hotels and stadium spaces.
Today, Gen Con draws over 70,000 attendees each year. It’s a showcase for everything from blockbuster board game launches to quirky indie prototypes, plus live shows, cosplay, and massive organized play events. To many in the community, it’s more than just a convention, it’s “the best four days in gaming.”
This year’s Gen Con 2025 (31 July – 3 August) was no exception, bringing with it plenty of buzzworthy releases. While there are too many to list, here are a few highlights that really stood out for me.
Renowned expertise giving us the inside track into the world of Trading Cards Games & Accessories!
Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could stop them, but when the world needed him most, he vanished. A hundred years passed, and the war rages on...
Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Plains. Island. Swamp. Mountain. Forest. This November, the four elements of Avatar: The Last Airbender will be introduced to the Multiverse – can Aang save the world and restore peace and bring balance between the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads?
Be sure to place your order for Magic: The Gathering® - Avatar: The Last Airbender™ so that you can test your bending skills on the battlefield at a Wizards Play Network Store near you!
There are eight products in this awesome release for you to choose from and each fan is guaranteed to have something to look forward to. Personally, I am most excited to see Uncle Iroh’s wisdom featuring as cool flavour text on Magic cards.
Hear from our resident toy and lifestyle product expert!
Calling all One Piece fans – get ready to welcome your favourite Straw Hat crew members (and one unforgettable villain!) into your collection. Arriving mid-September, the One Piece Collectible Plush series brings to life some of the most beloved characters from the legendary anime.
This wave features four iconic characters in super-soft, huggable plush:
These plushies aren’t just cuddly - they’re collectibles every fan will treasure. Whether you’re lining them up on your shelf, bringing them along to conventions, or snuggling up with them during your next anime marathon, they’re the perfect way to keep the One Piece spirit close.
🚢 Don’t miss the ship! Luffy, Zoro, Nami, and Buggy will be docking mid-September - so get ready to grab your favourites before they disappear faster than Sanji chasing dessert.
Which one are you adding to your crew first - Luffy, Zoro, Nami, or Buggy? 👀
Stay up to date with the latest updates.
The Pokémon Company International recently announced a change to the official release date of the Mega Evolution expansion. Originally scheduled for release on 26 September, the products will have a revised street date of 10 October. This change impacts all the Mega Evolution products and include the September Mini Portfolio and the Mega Heroes Mini Tin.
Solarpop would also like to inform our customers that we will have a market-specific delay for the release of the Black Bolt & White Flare Tech Sticker Collection and Unova Victini Illustration Collection. Both products were scheduled for release in August, but owing to shipping delays to South Africa the product will only arrive late in September.
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