Now Playing: Finnspan Fever

Platform boots. Glitter. The overwhelming urge to build the perfect aquatic engine.

"Finnspan Fever" is a Glam Rock ballad that nobody asked for and absolutely everyone needed. It is dramatic, it is ridiculous, and it captures the quiet obsession of Finnspan better than it has any right to.

Press play. Set up your wetland. Try not to lose yourself completely.

No promises on that last one. 🎸🐟

June Pop'd Price Drop 💥

The calendar has turned, the deals are fresh, and the timing could not be better.

June Pop'd Price Drop kicks off on 29 May and runs through to 25 June -- which means winter game nights just got a serious upgrade. Whether you are stocking up, gifting, or simply treating yourself to something new across the table, this month's promotion is packed with reasons to act fast.

More details, more deals, and more reasons to clear some shelf space -- all below.

June Pop'd Price Drop. Live now. Don't sleep on it. 💥

My Little Pony Friendship Eternal Cards – Moon Edition

The vibrant world of My Little Pony will soon be available as a collectible card series. Beloved characters like Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Applejack will come to life in beautiful artwork.

The Friendship Eternal Cards – Moon Edition will feature 290 types of cards available in 10 different rarities. Each booster will come with 8 cards, and collectors have varying odds of opening special art treatments. Each booster will feature a guaranteed 3 rare cards, and the top-tier rarity Diamond ZR are extremely rare!

My Little Pony Friendship Eternal Cards – Moon Edition will be available in stores 26 June 2026.

The Rarity Breakdown

Every pack contains 8 cards with guaranteed pulls at multiple rarity levels. Here is what you and your customers will be chasing.

Star Wars Unlimited: Ashes of the Empire

In this edition I would like to shine a spotlight on the upcoming 8th set for Star Wars Unlimited: Ashes of the Empire. As the title suggests, this exciting new release focuses on one of the most iconic and transformative eras within the Star Wars galaxy: the Battle of Endor and the turbulent years that followed the fall of the Galactic Empire. Fans can look forward to seeing legendary characters, memorable ships, and pivotal events that helped shape the future of the galaxy during this uncertain and chaotic period.

Whether you are a long-time Star Wars fan or a dedicated Star Wars Unlimited player, Ashes of the Empire promises to deliver an immersive experience packed with strategic depth, thematic storytelling, and incredible new gameplay opportunities.

Spotlighting Leaders

No new set would be complete without a brand-new pair of Spotlight Decks! These ready-to-play 50-card decks are designed to help players jump straight into the action. Will you rally your forces alongside Luke Skywalker, or embrace the dark side with Emperor Palpatine?

New Tools to Explore

Ashes of the Empire introduces over 260 brand-new cards, including the new Support keyword, resilient Mandalorian token units, and fleeting but powerful Advantage tokens capable of shifting the momentum of the game in an instant.

Collecting With Carbonite

The highly sought-after Carbonite Edition booster packs are returning -- produced in limited quantities and will not be reprinted. These premium packs are loaded with variant cards including the Carbonite-exclusive Prestige variants. A must-have for collectors while supplies last.

What's in the Range

Pre-orders go live on 27 May 2026. Official release: 17 July 2026.

First Look Trailer

May the Force be with you as we count down the days.

Spiel Des Jahres 2026 – Kennerspiel Des Jahres Nominees

The Spiel Des Jahres, or Game of the Year for those non-German speakers out there, is one of the tabletop gaming world's biggest accolades. First awarded way back in 1979 with the aim of recognising games that best promoted games as a cultural asset across society, the awards have since expanded to include the "Kennerspiel" or hobby game category. This year's nominees are some of the strongest contenders for the prize that I've seen in a long time, and so I thought I'd take a deeper dive into what makes these three so unique.

Whether by design or coincidence, this year's nominees are certainly amongst the most accessible "hobby" games for new players, while still being deep and exciting enough to warrant a place on any veteran gamer's shelf. Regardless of which one takes the prize this July, expect to see these names on a lot of nomination lists -- and gaming tables -- over the next year.

New Releases Through the Marketing Lens

Every now and then, a wave of new products lands that genuinely gets the team talking. This is one of those waves.

Over the past few weeks, we have been building out the marketing foundations for a fresh batch of brands now live in the Solarpop ecosystem -- and the energy in the building around these launches has been something else. Here is a look at what has hit the shelves, and how we are bringing each one to life.

Hunter Studio Artistry

Air dry clay that transforms into a finished, frameable 3D shadow box. Flowers. Succulents. Butterflies. The kind of product that looks incredible on shelf and even better once it is made.

From a marketing perspective, Hunter Studio is everything we love to work with -- strong visual identity, clear creative payoff, and enormous content potential. The finished pieces are genuinely beautiful, which means the content almost creates itself. We are leaning into the mindful, creative angle here: this is not just a craft kit, it is a hands-on experience with a display-worthy result at the end of it.

Furmotion Friends -- Luna Wags

She blinks. She wags. She purrs. And she is available now at Toy Kingdom.

Luna Wags is the kind of launch that makes noise in the best possible way. Animated, expressive, and impossibly cute -- Furmotion Friends has the kind of shelf presence that stops children in their tracks and the kind of play value that keeps them engaged long after the box is open. We are leaning hard into the demonstration angle here, because nothing sells Luna Wags quite like seeing her in action.

My Vibe

Make it. Wear it. That tagline does a lot of the heavy lifting, and it should -- because My Vibe earns it.

Eight miniature handbag designs. Mess-free crafting. Child-safe clips. And a collectible angle that turns one purchase into the beginning of a collection. My Vibe sits at the intersection of fashion, creativity, and play in a way that is genuinely exciting for the lifestyle and toy retail space.

Our marketing approach here is all about the transformation -- from kit to wearable. The range photographs beautifully, the variety of designs gives us endless content angles, and the gifting story writes itself.

LumiPuff

Soft illuminated plush pillows with calming breathing light patterns and soothing heartbeat vibrations. Designed for children. Built for bedtime. Positioned perfectly for the gifting market.

LumiPuff is the kind of product that stops a parent mid-scroll. The visual is warm, comforting, and instantly communicates the benefit without needing a single word of explanation. We are building the marketing story around the bedtime ritual -- the idea that LumiPuff is not just a pillow, it is part of how a child winds down and feels safe at night.

Beep Boop

Small beings. Big personalities. And their own pocket-sized AI.

Meet Kirin, Miao Miao, Tochi, and Mochi -- four highly advanced little characters, each with a unique personality, their own knowledge base, and the ability to be programmed to their owner. Beep Boop are not just toys. They are companions. And that distinction is exactly where the marketing story lives.

From a retail perspective, Beep Boop has everything working in its favour -- strong visual identity, a collectable character range, and a concept that resonates instantly with the tech-savvy, screen-native generation of kids who are growing up alongside AI. The programmable angle is genuinely exciting, and we are building content that leans into the "meet your Beep Boop" moment -- that first interaction where the personality comes alive.

Five new brands. Real play value. Real retail theatre. And a marketing team that is genuinely excited about every single one of them.

If you want to know more about ranging any of these products, get in touch with your Account Manager.

-- The Solarpop Marketing Team

The organised play calendar is absolutely stacked right now, and if you are a player, a store owner, or someone who has been sitting on the fence about getting involved -- this is your sign.

Yu-Gi-Oh! State Championships -- Cape Town & Gauteng

The road to the 2026 World Championship runs through South Africa, and it is heating up fast.

South African Duelists will compete for the title of State Champion in some of the biggest events of the year. Top performers will walk away with Game Mats, Prize Cards, Trophies, and other exclusive items -- and many will earn qualifications to the 2026 European World Championship Qualifier. State Championships are open to everybody -- no prior qualification needed. This is as big as local Yu-Gi-Oh! gets.

Cape Town -- 13 & 14 June at Sunningdale Primary School

Gauteng -- 20 & 21 June 2026

Grab your tickets here:

Cape Town Tickets

Gauteng Tickets

One Piece Straw Hat League -- Live Now

The One Piece Straw Hat League has officially kicked off, with the first events already live and happening. Check the UY socials and community groups to find your nearest participating store and jump in.

And if you needed any more reason to be excited about One Piece right now -- Season 2 of the live-action series, titled Into the Grand Line, is currently on Netflix, with Season 3 already in production in Cape Town. The franchise has never been bigger. The timing for this league could not be better.

Catan National League -- Store Accumulation Underway

The Catan National League is building. We are currently in the store accumulation phase -- lining up participating retailers across the country ahead of the league kicking off.

The league operates on a structured format involving three round-robin rounds of gameplay per event, spread over several dates. The top 60 players nationally earn an invitation to the South African National Championship -- with a chance to qualify for the Catan World Championship.

If your store wants to be part of the Catan National League, now is the time to get in touch. More details to follow as the store list is confirmed.

Star Wars Unlimited -- Planetary Qualifiers (Sets 7 & 8)

Planetary Qualifiers are the entry point into Star Wars Unlimited's competitive organised play circuit -- single-day events with prizes for both participation and final placement, open to players of all experience levels.

Set 7 Planetary Qualifiers are wrapping up now, with the final event taking place at Jix Hobbies on 30 May. Set 8 Qualifiers are on the way -- watch UY socials for your nearest event.

Coming in July & August 2026 -- Magic: The Gathering League & King of Tokyo League

Two exciting new leagues are in planning and targeting a July 2026 kickoff. Magic: The Gathering and King of Tokyo are both coming to the Unplug Yourself organised play platform. Details to be confirmed -- watch this space.

First Teaser -- Bananagrams School League

Something new is coming to the schools and community space. We are laying the groundwork for a Bananagrams School League, and we think this one is going to turn some heads. First details coming soon.

Festival of Games (FOG) -- It's Coming Back

FOG is returning. Festival of Games -- our initiative to bring the joy of board games into schools and communities -- is coming back with a proper bang. More details to follow very soon. If you want to be involved, get in touch now.

Want to Join the Game Guide Team?

We are growing the Game Guide team and we want passionate, knowledgeable people who love games and love sharing that love with others.

Being a Game Guide means getting paid to do exactly that. Teach people about games at conventions, retailer activations, and events across the country. You will be at the front line of some of the biggest moments on the tabletop gaming calendar -- from Comic Con to new product launches -- and you will be helping build the next generation of players and collectors in South Africa.

What we are looking for is straightforward. You need to know how to play and teach trading card games or board games, be available over weekends and public holidays, have your own reliable transport, and be responsible, reliable, and a team player.

What you get in return is just as straightforward. You get paid, you get access to major conventions, you get early exposure to new and exciting products, and you get to be part of a community that genuinely loves what it does.

If that sounds like you, apply now: