A recent patent filing provides evidence of Hasbro’s plans to utilize their popular NERF guns as controllers for virtual reality (VR) gaming systems. These iconic toy blasters have been a staple since the early 1990s, with Hasbro introducing various lines and iterations over the years. Still a favorite among young boys, NERF guns have also gained a following among enthusiasts who modify them to enhance performance or upgrade the darts used. In the realm of video games, there have been tie-in titles centered around these toys, such as the first-person shooter NERF Legends, released in 2021 for platforms including Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and Xbox.
Despite the ongoing popularity of the toys, Hasbro has been collaborating with other games to promote their NERF guns. Examples include launching a line of NERF guns themed around Minecraft and providing Halo Infinite players with an in-game skin upon purchasing these blasters. It seems the next frontier for these toys is their integration as controllers in virtual reality and augmented reality gaming experiences.
