Brand Licensing Europe 2023 Recap: Meetings, Musings, and Magic
Play Management Company in attendance at the BLE 2023
Kevin Bahler
PR Manager, Blog contributor
Play Management Company was in attendance at BLE 2023, and everyone could feel the excitement in the air. For 3 days, exhibitors, visitors, and character mascots filled the London ExCeL convention centre.
For those who missed it (or those who want to relive the experience), here are some of the highlights.
For those who missed it (or those who want to relive the experience), here are some of the highlights.
Exhibitors
Over 270 exhibitors were in attendance from 20 countries, including some of the biggest IPs from books, film, and television. We were excited to explore the gorgeous displays of WildBrain CPLG, BBC Studios, Crunchyroll, and Penguin Ventures (just to name a few).
Focusing on the world of gaming, there was plenty to see. Our friends at ZeptoLab were showing off their globally popular IPs like Om Nom from Cut the Rope. Similarly, the beloved Talking Tom & Friends franchise kept the folks at Outfit7 busy all day long. A special shoutout to Capcom for their beautiful mural depicting characters from all of their games over the years (and a classic Street Fighter II arcade cabinet for nostalgia).
Focusing on the world of gaming, there was plenty to see. Our friends at ZeptoLab were showing off their globally popular IPs like Om Nom from Cut the Rope. Similarly, the beloved Talking Tom & Friends franchise kept the folks at Outfit7 busy all day long. A special shoutout to Capcom for their beautiful mural depicting characters from all of their games over the years (and a classic Street Fighter II arcade cabinet for nostalgia).
Kevin Bahler (PR Manager, Play Management Company) and Andy Davis (Commercial Director, Capcom)
Visitors
Max Bandrovskiy (CEO, Play Management Company) listening to a presentation about a new video game in development with sustainability messaging.
The walkways were packed with visitors who were taking in the sights, snapping tons of photos and travelling from booth to booth to make their next meeting.
As much as we enjoy the spectacle, BLE is a place to find opportunities for collaboration, and many people’s schedules were booked solid. On top of scheduled meetings, several chance encounters led to serendipitous connections (which is part of the magic of these events).
As much as we enjoy the spectacle, BLE is a place to find opportunities for collaboration, and many people’s schedules were booked solid. On top of scheduled meetings, several chance encounters led to serendipitous connections (which is part of the magic of these events).
Speakers
Throughout the event, a series of speeches, conversations, panel discussions, and fireside chats were led by top industry professionals. These sessions covered specific topics like fashion, location-based entertainment, sport, and gaming. More general topics were also covered, such as the current state of licensing, how to build trust in partnerships, and the future of licensing.
The conversation titled, “Why Gaming is Taking Over the World” showed the steadily growing power of gaming across countries, cultures, and platforms. The speakers showed how gaming connects with people on a deep, personal level, and the surprisingly vast opportunities for collaboration. It was inspiring to hear these leaders from Games Workshop, Mojang Studios, Beanstalk, and Halo brands talking about the future of licensing in gaming.
The conversation titled, “Why Gaming is Taking Over the World” showed the steadily growing power of gaming across countries, cultures, and platforms. The speakers showed how gaming connects with people on a deep, personal level, and the surprisingly vast opportunities for collaboration. It was inspiring to hear these leaders from Games Workshop, Mojang Studios, Beanstalk, and Halo brands talking about the future of licensing in gaming.
Characters
Adding an extra dash of joy and cheer, the character parade made their way through the convention centre. Costumed characters from beloved stories, both modern and timeless, made their way to say hello, wave, and dance.
Our PR Manager Kevin was determined to take a picture with as many as he could, and to look as much like a character as them.
Our PR Manager Kevin was determined to take a picture with as many as he could, and to look as much like a character as them.
See you soon!
We hope to see all of those wonderful people again next year, as well as several new faces. So come visit Play Management Company next time. For those who don’t want to wait, or those interested in learning more about mobile game licensing opportunities, you can reach out to us today.
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