Wishing all the cardboard enthusiasts a happy 2026!

Today marks the release of Lorwyn Eclipsed , and during last weekend’s Prerelease events, a few players around the world got quite the surprise. Instead of their kit containing a Lorwyn Eclipsed promo card, some packs included a promo card from the upcoming March Universes Beyond crossover release Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles . Were you one of the affected players? Were you disappointed to miss out on the Lorwyn promo, or delighted by the unintended spoiler?

Lorwyn Eclipsed is available in store and online from today, while Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles officially goes on sale on 6 March.

Yu-Gi-Oh! fans who love to bling out their decks should be sure not to miss the all-foil The Chronicles Deck: Spirit Charmers . This release follows the popular October launch of The Chronicles Deck: The Fallen & The Virtuous , and is on sale from today. It’s a fantastic addition to the collection of any Spirit Charmers player.

January’s exciting TCG releases continue with the first products from the highly anticipated Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution – Ascended Heroes expansion arriving on 30 January. Pokémon fans can pick up either the 2-pack blister featuring Larry and Erika, or the Tech Sticker Collection . Will you be accessorising with Charmander and Charizard, or Ghastly and Gengar? I’ll be aiming to get the Ghastly sticker for my phone.

— Stefan, Product Manager

New Year’s Gaming Resolutions – Fun Quest 2026

According to statistics, anywhere from 80–90% of New Year’s resolutions don’t last past the end of February, and if you’re anything like me, you’ve fallen squarely into that group so many times that you’ve stopped making them altogether. This year would have been exactly the same, had I not stumbled across a random social media post about someone resolving to eat as many new types of pasta as possible. It was a reminder that resolutions can, and maybe should, also be about fun.

And so, with that in mind, I’ve resolved to dive into a genre of game that prioritises fun above all else, but one that I’ve never quite clicked with before – party games.

I’ll admit it, party games have never really been my thing. I’ve always gravitated towards bigger, more mechanically and thematically rich games, with worlds I can fully immerse myself in. But there are two party games arriving in the first quarter of this year that managed to captivate me in just a few minutes of gameplay, and in doing so, convinced me that I’ve been missing out.

The Chameleon and Sounds Fishy are both hidden-role, bluffing and deduction games where the only penalty for guessing wrong is simply being wrong. There are no hard feelings, no player elimination, and no lingering grudges over getting fooled.

The Chameleon plays out like an introvert trying to blend in at a social gathering. Read the room, identify the secret category everyone else has been given, then carefully slip into the conversation as if you belonged there all along. It’s a strange but wonderful Codenames–Werewolf hybrid that keeps everyone guessing, regardless of their role.

Sounds Fishy, on the other hand, feels like an elaborate game of Call My Bluff with a dash of Weakest Link-style point banking. Players walk a fine line between absurdity and believability, attempting to convince their friends that a completely made-up sounding fact is actually a ridiculous truth.

I couldn’t say exactly what it is about these two games that appealed to me in a way other party games haven’t, but they’ve convinced me that the genre does have something to suit my tastes. As Fun Quest 2026, as I’ve officially named it, continues, I’m genuinely excited to discover what else I may have been missing.

— Terry, Board Game Product Manager

New Year, New Games

Howzit everyone! I hope you all enjoyed a well-deserved break over the December holidays and managed to squeeze in plenty of gaming time with family and friends. With a wave of exciting new stock arriving both just before and during our closure period, I thought this would be the perfect moment to shine a spotlight on a few standout titles that really caught my eye.

Each of these games is highly rated on BoardGameGeek, and after all the buzz, I couldn’t resist picking up Deep Regrets and Star Wars: Unlimited - Intro Battle: Hoth for my own collection. Safe to say, they did not disappoint!

Deep Regrets

Deep Regrets is a darkly humorous horror fishing game about hauling increasingly disturbing things from the ocean. Roll bespoke tackle dice each turn to test your luck at sea, deciding when to push on and when to return to port to sell fish, rest, and resupply.

Scout shadowy shoals at varying depths, take calculated risks to catch strange and valuable fish, and manage powerful catch and reveal effects. As the horrors mount, you’ll gain Regrets, boosting your madness and rewards, but threatening costly consequences at the end of the game. Balance risk, resources, and sanity to land the most valuable haul before your regrets catch up with you.

Star Wars: Unlimited - Intro Battle: Hoth

Jump into a galaxy of endless possibilities with Intro Battle: Hoth. This carefully crafted, self-contained experience is the ideal entry point into Star Wars: Unlimited, especially for players new to trading card games. Take command of Darth Vader’s invading Imperial forces or lead Leia Organa’s Rebel defenders as they hold the line at Echo Base. With clear, guided rules and a handy game board, players can dive straight into the action while reliving one of the most iconic battles in the Star Wars saga.

Duel for Cardia

Cardia is a fast-paced, strategic two-player card game where timing and clever play decide every encounter. Born from legend, the wondrous city of Cardia was created by a mighty djinn, and control of the city lies with whoever can win over its four factions and claim their five powerful signet rings.

Each player commands an identical deck of cards numbered 1–16, all with unique abilities. Choose when to strike, anticipate your opponent’s moves, and play your cards at just the right moment to outwit them and claim victory.

The Gang

Round up your crew and prepare for a series of high-stakes bank heists powered by poker. The Gang is a cooperative twist on Texas Hold’em, where players silently bet on how strong they believe their hand is compared to the rest of the table, then try to prove themselves right.

At the start of each round, players secretly choose a chip to indicate their confidence. As community cards are revealed, everyone reassesses their hand without saying a word. At the end of the round, hands are compared: succeed together to crack a vault, or fail and trip the alarm. Open three vaults before the alarm sounds three times, and your gang pulls off the perfect heist.

I hope you found the information above helpful and insightful. Until the next newsletter, keep on gaming!

— Etienne

Unplug Yourself - Play Portal

Community play continues to be a powerful driver of engagement, and Unplug Yourself is expanding how players, stores, and organisers connect through its Play Portal.

The Unplug Yourself Play Portal is designed to empower local game communities by giving organisers the tools to create, manage, and grow organised play experiences. From casual social evenings to structured leagues and competitive play, the platform supports a wide range of formats that bring players together around the table.

Through the Play Portal, organisers can:

• Create and manage leagues, tournaments, and social play events
• Track wins, rankings, and player progress
• Support player growth from casual to competitive
• Build consistent, community-led play within local stores and regions

What’s available:

• Star Wars Unlimited
• One Piece
• Catan
• King of Tokyo
• Ticket to Ride
• Dune Imperium
• Magic: The Gathering

These leagues and events are designed to run at store level while feeding into broader regional and national play, helping hobby stores and community hubs deepen engagement and repeat foot traffic.

Retailers and players interested in hosting or participating can sign up via the Unplug Yourself Play Portal and become part of a growing national network focused on organised play, community building, and shared experiences.

Pokémon Turns 30 - A Landmark Year for the Brand in 2026

In 2026, Pokémon celebrates 30 years as one of the most influential entertainment franchises in the world. Since its launch in 1996, Pokémon has grown from a pair of Game Boy titles into a global brand spanning video games, animation, Trading Card Games, merchandise, mobile platforms, and live fan experiences — with relevance that continues to span generations.

The official milestone moment takes place on Pokémon Day, 27 February 2026, marking three decades since Pokémon first launched in Japan. Importantly, this anniversary is not positioned as a single event. Globally, Pokémon’s 30th Anniversary is being treated as a year-long celebration, with activity, announcements, and fan engagement rolling out across the course of 2026.

Early global announcements and partnerships are already signalling the scale of what’s coming. This anniversary year is designed to both reward long-standing fans and welcome new ones into the franchise, reinforcing Pokémon’s position as a category leader across play, collecting, and pop culture.

How we’re celebrating Pokémon’s 30th Anniversary locally

At Solarpop, our focus for 2026 is clear: to celebrate Pokémon’s 30th Anniversary in a way that is aligned with global brand direction, commercially effective for retailers, and meaningful for fans on the ground.

• In-store Pokémon celebrations at selected mass retail partners, featuring cohesive themes, visual takeovers, and Poké Party-style experiences designed to engage families and younger fans.
• Learn-to-Play and casual tournament roadshows, creating accessible entry points for new players while strengthening safe trading, community play, and long-term engagement.
• League store and hobby channel celebrations, including anniversary moments and selected Pokémon TCG launch parties that support players, collectors, and community leaders.
• Event-led activations linked to major fan platforms such as Comic Con, supported by PR, social media, and trusted influencer partnerships.

Across all of these touchpoints, the goal is consistent: to elevate the Pokémon brand, deepen fan engagement, and drive sustainable demand throughout the year — not just around peak moments.

Built for long-term engagement

The Pokémon 30th Anniversary is about more than nostalgia. It’s about building momentum for the future of the brand across players, collectors, gift-givers, and first-time fans. Our strategy for 2026 is firmly focused on all-year-round selling, clear consumer pathways, and supporting retailers with aligned marketing, in-store assets, and guidance as the year unfolds.

This is a milestone year for Pokémon — and a significant opportunity for retail. We’re looking forward to celebrating it together throughout 2026.

Celebrating a Major Milestone: D20 Battleground and The Big Bang Shop Achieve WPN Premium

We’re incredibly proud to congratulate D20 Battleground and The Big Bang Shop on officially achieving WPN Premium status - a milestone that represents the very highest standard within the Wizards Play Network.

WPN Premium is a recognition reserved for stores that consistently deliver exceptional player experiences, and uphold the highest standards of presentation and accessibility. Achieving Premium status requires long-term commitment, thoughtful store design, rigorous operational consistency, and a genuine focus on making players feel welcome and valued every single time they walk through the door.

Both D20 Battleground and The Big Bang Shop have demonstrated this commitment in spades. These stores are cornerstone venues in their respective regions, known not just for running events, but for cultivating thriving Magic communities. From well-run tournaments and leagues to clean, intentional play spaces and knowledgeable, passionate staff, they exemplify what WPN Premium is meant to represent.

Reaching this level takes sustained effort, reinvestment, and community trust. It’s a reflection of countless events hosted, late nights behind the scenes, and years spent building something bigger than just a retail space. This achievement places both stores among an elite group globally and firmly recognises them as leaders within the South African Magic ecosystem.

Congratulations once again to the teams at D20 Battleground and The Big Bang Shop. This is a massive achievement and one that is thoroughly well deserved.

Keep an eye on their social channels for information about their upcoming WPN Premium Celebration Events.

— Kendra, Hobby Account Manager

Solarpop Retailer Delivery Service Level Agreement (SLA) – 2026

To support clearer communication and consistent delivery expectations, Solarpop has formalised our Retailer Delivery Service Level Agreement (SLA) for 2026. This SLA outlines how orders move through our system, when delivery timelines begin, and how courier transit times are calculated.

When delivery timelines begin

Delivery timeframes do not begin when an order is placed or paid. Delivery timelines only start once an order has been packed, a waybill has been generated, and the shipment is dispatched with our courier partner on the next business day.

Order journey – end to end

Orders move through the following stages:

• Order placement by the retailer
• Payment allocation and account approval (where applicable)
• Internal processing: picking, checking, packing, and invoicing
• Waybill generation and tracking details sent to the retailer
• Dispatch with First Freight Couriers on the next business day

Courier partner & tracking

Solarpop delivers via First Freight Couriers. Once a waybill number has been issued, retailers can track their delivery directly using First Freight’s tracking platform:

https://firstfreight.pperfect.com/

Delivery timeframes (from dispatch)

Delivery times are calculated from the date of waybill generation and dispatch, not from order placement or payment. Typical delivery ranges include:

• Cape Town: 24–72 hours
• Major centres (JHB, PTA, PE, EL, George): 48–72 hours
• Durban: 48–96 hours
• Regional & outlying areas: additional 1–3 business days

Chain stores & back-door deliveries

For chain stores, malls, and distribution centres, delivery timeframes reflect arrival at the delivery location only. Drivers may be required to queue at receiving bays, and wait times at these facilities are outside of Solarpop’s and the courier’s control.

Proof of delivery & damages

Retailers are required to inspect deliveries on receipt and clearly note any visible damages, shortages, or carton damage on the delivery waybill. Failure to record issues at the time of delivery may affect the ability to lodge courier claims.

The full SLA forms part of Solarpop’s retailer trading terms and is designed to ensure alignment between retailers, Solarpop, and our courier partners for a smooth and transparent delivery experience.

Solarpop Stock Take & Office Closure – February 2026

We’d like to remind our retail partners of the upcoming Solarpop stock take and office closure dates to assist with planning and order placement.

Annual Stock Take

Our annual stock take will take place on Wednesday, 25 February and Thursday, 26 February 2026. During this period, our Cape Town offices and warehouse will be closed, and staff availability will be limited.

• No orders will be processed on 25–26 February
• Retail partners are encouraged to place orders as early as possible to avoid delays
• Our Johannesburg team will remain available to assist with queries

Office & Warehouse Closure

Solarpop will be fully closed on Friday, 27 February 2026.

• No staff available to assist with queries
• Warehouse closed – no shipments dispatched
• All staff return on Monday, 2 March 2026

Important Order & Collection Cut-Offs

• Final courier handover by close of business on Monday, 23 February 2026
• Collections on 24 February at the usual 15:00 time
• Orders not collected will be available from 2 March
• Orders received after 24 February will be processed from 2 March

We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding and cooperation.