Star Wars as a franchise exists in many forms, and across multiple mediums. Films, video games, books, clothes. Essentially, anything that can be licensed has been licensed and sold. That includes board games, and that of course includes Monopoly.
In early 2016, Monopoly maker Hasbro responded to an Illinois girl’s letter asking for Rey to be included in the game because, as she astutely noted, “girls matter.”
8 yr old asks, How could you leave out Rey in SW Monopoly? @LetToysBeToys @HasbroNews @PigtailPals #WheresRey pic.twitter.com/EnOs56PQE5
— Carrie Goldman (@CarrieMGoldman) January 4, 2016
Hasbro promised at the time to add Rey to the game:, according to the Associated Press:
“We love the passion fans have for Rey, and are happy to announce that we will be making a running change to include her in the Monopoly: Star Wars game available later this year,” Duffy told the AP in an emailed statement at the time. She added that fans who had already purchased the game “can obtain the Rey token by contacting Hasbro Consumer Care when the updated game becomes available later this year.”
Now, though, it turns out Hasbro isn’t exactly living up to their word:
After inquiries from The Associated Press this week, Pawtucket, R.I.-based Hasbro said it made the piece but didn’t release the new version in the United States “due to insufficient interest.” People who bought the all-male game can request a Rey from customer service, spokeswoman Julie Duffy said Wednesday.
“In early 2016, Hasbro updated the 2015 Star Wars: Monopoly game to add a Rey token. This product was sold to retailers in several markets around the world, but is not available for sale in the U.S. due to insufficient interest,” Duffy wrote in an email.
So, players can still get a Rey piece, but it won’t be added to every game. That kind of defeats the purpose, especially because this likely wasn’t widely known until now. Rey is going to end up being one of the most important characters in the entire franchise, serving as the lead for the final three movies in the saga.
If Rey were a male character, it’s very fair to assume there’d be a Rey figurine; the game currently ships with Force Awakens characters Kylo Ren and Finn, after all. Girls love Star Wars, and it’s tough to imagine that girls don’t play Monopoly. (No one really enjoys Monopoly.)
This feels like Hasbro being caught in the wake of an empty PR promise and not knowing what to do.
[AP]
