On June 4, the Funko Twitter page announced a new line of Funko Pop figures based on the classic looks of iconic video game characters. Pop figures are a massive brand of collectibles that star characters from popular culture. From movies to video games to cartoons, chances are if it's in the mainstream, there's a Funko Pop figure for it. The company has grown over the years thanks to each new deal it signs with companies and studios, turning the company from a small toy manufacturer to the pop culture powerhouse it is today.
Funko Pop figures already exist for a wide range of video game characters, featuring popular releases such as Fortnite, Halo, Sonic the Hedgehog, Pokémon, and numerous others. The most recent partnerships with the toy manufacturer include big releases like Cyberpunk 2077 and the as-of-yet unreleased Halo Infinite. According to recent announcements from Funko, however, the company looks to be going back in time to bring classic icons back to life.
Joining Funko's lineup of figures are two original looks for widely popular characters, along with another two classic characters joining the company's collection for the first time. Available only at Gamestop, people will soon be able to get their hands on Halo Combat Evolved Master Chief as well as Sonic the Hedgehog 2's Sonic, bringing the classic looks for the iconic franchise leads to store shelves. Along with these blasts from the past, Funko has also announced new Pop figures for Sly Cooper from the games of the same name along with Sir Daniel Fortesque from MediEvil.
Pre-orders for the figures are now available online, with release dates announced for each figure. The Sly Cooper and Sir Daniel Fortesque figures are both slated for release on June 11, 2021, with Sonic just after on June 21 and Master Chief dropping later in the year on October 13, around the time Halo Infinite is slated to release. Alongside the figures, the packaging for both Sonic and Master Chief includes the classic box art for their respective games, adding an extra hit of nostalgia for fans and collectors.
Funko is bringing yet another strong lineup of figures to their already massive collection, and due to the popularity of Halo and Sonic the Hedgehog they're sure to be profitable for the company. MediEvil has been given a remake back in 2019 while Sly Cooper hasn't been seen since its remastered collection back in 2011. This leads to speculation of a possible remake for that title as well given the recent trend of remaking or remastering popular classic games. Either way, it looks like the franchise hasn't been completely left in the dust. It's unknown how many figures will be available on release day so pre-ordering is recommended before supplies run out like other products released this year.