By providing a creative platform on which people can interact with one another and transform the virtual world around them, Minecraft has become one of the most popular video games of all-time. How does it continue to draw such a vast audience in the ever-evolving and competitive gaming industry?

With the choice of toys at an all-time high, children making purchase decisions at a younger age, and technology bringing the playground closer than ever before, how can brands build the next big thing for kids? And as the lifespans of fads get shorter, how can brands engineer staying power?

Hasbro’s ‘Proudly Made for Juniors’ campaign has received praise for challenging the ‘passive little girl’ stereotype. By presenting a young girl as the hero in an ad for its Nerf Junior Blasters, the company is subverting the norms around a toy stereotypically targeted at boys.

Purpose Toys is acknowledging the demand for increased cultural representation with its Latina community-focused fashion dolls line. With play being an integral part of children forming their worldviews and values, inclusionary toys and games are increasingly seen as a necessity by many.