Wonacott Communications

Unveiling retro Disney magic with Nighthawk Interactive’s Disney Classic Games Collection
Unveiling retro Disney magic with Nighthawk Interactive’s Disney Classic Games Collection

In September, we helped our partners at Nighthawk Interactive to reveal the Disney Classic Games Collection, a compilation of three beloved 16-bit Disney games updated for current-gen consoles and PC. Just like Simba couldn’t wait to be King, we couldn’t wait to announce this shiny new collection of retro titles. But it turns out we weren’t the only ones – not long before the announcement was due to go out, we received word that the news had leaked. Undeterred, we rolled up our sleeves and leveraged our strong media relations to help make this reveal a success.

Announcing a game for one of the world’s most recognizable entertainment brands required months of advance coordination. Leading up to the reveal, we worked with teams at both Nighthawk Interactive and Disney to finalize the details of the press release, coordinate assets – including a delightful slideshow of nostalgic 16-bit screenshots – and nail down our pitching strategy.

To maximize potential coverage, we had to get creative when choosing our target media. We asked ourselves, “Everybody loves Disney…but who really loves it?” Supplementing a wide-ranging list of gaming, entertainment and geek news media, we sought out passionate Disney enthusiast sites, such as Laughing Place and Chip and Company, plus family-friendly entertainment and parenting outlets.

Then came the leaks. We knew there had been speculation surrounding this new version of Disney Classic Games, but when the news got out ahead of the announcement, we worried it would overshadow our PR efforts.

Nevertheless, we kept our spirits up, figuring if everyone was talking about it, then interest must be high. On the morning of the reveal, we confidently pitched the news to our media targets and secured top-tier coverage with IGN, GamesRadar+, Game Rant and Polygon, just to name a few.

But our campaign for Disney Classic Games Collection is only beginning. Throughout the coming weeks, we’ll continue supporting Nighthawk Interactive as we gear up for the game’s launch in November.

In the meantime, here’s just a taste of the coverage from the reveal:

Disney Classic Games Collection arrives for PC, Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on Nov. 9, 2021. Pre-orders are now live at all major retailers.