Anyone who is an anime fan has dreamt of being in an anime at least once. For fans of Beyblade X, the company has launched a new competition-exclusive product that will allow players to experience what it’s like to engage in a true Beyblade battle, just like the show.
Many Millennials and older Gen Z folks grew up playing Beyblade. All you needed was your small Beyblade spinning top, launcher, and a flat surface to battle with your friends. Or if you were lucky, maybe you had a plastic stadium. One too many fierce battles later, and unfortunately your stadium would start to crack. However over the years, stadiums have gotten sturdier, able to withstand the strength of kids and adults alike.
Aside from the game, the Beyblade franchise has also expanded into other avenues as well. Soon after the original launch of the game in 1999, a manga series was also introduced. In 2001, the game’s first animated series was released. Since then, the series has had a variety of remakes and spin-offs, including Beyblade: Metal Saga, the BeyWheelz series, Beyblade Burst, and, most recently, Beyblade X. Despite all the different versions of the show, however, the elements of a battle remain consistent: opponents battle with their Beyblades in a tournament stadium, which lights up and leaves light streaks following the path of each player’s spinning top.
Now in 2024, Beyblade is introducing a real-life tournament stadium that will allow competitors to see these special effects in real-time. Sure, it may seem gimmicky, but the most unique part of this launch is that the stadium is not actually for sale (for now). With three floating around Japan, this fourth electric stadium was built strictly for Beyblade to bring to conventions such as Anime Expo, where it made its overseas debut, and for competition. Utilizing this new stadium will allow those engaged in a battle to track their Beyblade’s path, watch its speed levels, monitor its spin time, and track each attack it delivers or receives.
While most Beyblade enthusiasts may not have the time to get into competitive tournaments where they can use this stadium, the company plans to bring the stadium to events across the U.S. so players can test it out. The electric stadium is undeniably more durable than previous plastic stadiums, but its best features are the real-time light streaks and stats, making players feel like they’re competing like in the anime.
For lifelong fans and players, these new features bring about a wave of nostalgia and invite you to play a childhood game once more. At the same time, such modern features indicate Beyblade’s technological growth to make the real-life experience as close to the anime as possible. These types of modern updates are what keep Beyblade alive and moving toward the future, bringing along the children who grew up with the franchise.
