a90skid.com
  • Shop
  • Reviews
  • Shop
  • Reviews
A 90s Kid

For a lot of people, video games are a means of escape. A way to disconnect from the stresses of life and fall into another world where you call the shots. However, life can often pop up in games and disrupt the illusion of being in that other world, and what does that better than some good, old fashioned product placement?

Sometimes product placement in games is subtle and blends into the environment, and sometimes it’s blatant and kind of disgusting. Let’s take a look at the top five most shameless, overt corporate advertisements in video games.

#5: Subway in Uncharted 3

We’re not sure why, but Naughty Dog teamed up with Subway to bring some strange product placement to Uncharted 3’s multiplayer mode. The PR strategy started with a real-life commercial for the sandwich chain starring Nathan Drake and continued in-game with Subway shirts, cups, and five-dollar-footlong jingles. Thankfully the advertising was kept out of the game’s single-player campaign, but the blatant logos still felt pretty invasive while in multiplayer.

#4: Everything in Pikmin 2

In Nintendo’s Pikmin 2, players crash land on a mysterious planet where they’re roughly the size of ants. Captain Olimar must repay his employer’s debt by collecting treasures, which are mostly regular items like batteries and bottle caps. It sounds like the perfect method of product placement, and Nintendo really ran with the concept. Just a few of the corporate treasures include Duracell batteries, multiple brands’ bottle caps, Skippy peanut butter, Carmex lip balm, and Kiwi shoe polish.

The branded items blend into the Pikmin world better than others, but the list of product placements is way too long for a single game; Pikmin 2 had to crack the top five.

#3: Mercedes in Mario Kart 8

Probably one of the first game product placements to pop into my mind was the obvious and way-too-out-of-place Mercedes Karts in Mario Kart 8. They’re sleek. They’re shiny. They’re Mercedes. And they don’t work with the colorful, stylized world of Mario at all. I roll my eyes every time I see them on my Kart list and refuse to drive them on principle. Nintendo already made their money off the deal, but it makes me feel a little better.

#2: Cup Noodles in Final Fantasy XV

product placement

The most recent and probably the silliest example of product placement has to be those freakin’ Cup Noodles in Final Fantasy VX. While some games put the logo or branded item in the environment without calling more attention to it, FFXV took the time to say how delicious and easy-to-make Cup Noodles are before the characters stop at a booth selling the product. The product is brought up multiple other times as well. It all feels very out of place and way too corporate shilly.

#1: Verizon and Energizer in Alan Wake 

While all the product placements on this list are glaringly obvious and pretty annoying, Alan Wake takes the cake for its repeated, overt Verizon and Energizer promotions. There are Verizon billboards, a “Can you hear me now?” plug, and a game achievement unlocked by watching actual commercials on TV.

Also, Energizer batteries are everywhere in Alan Wake, a game where you’re constantly needing more power for Alan’s flashlight. The batteries fit in well enough, but the Verizon promotions are the definition of shameless, distracting, and annoying product placement.

What do you think of video game product placements? Did I miss some of your favorite — or least favorite — ones? Let us know in the comments below!

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Mischa McGill

Mischa grew up with video games and still has a deep love for many - especially fun, colorful RPGs. Some of her favorites include Pokémon, Animal Crossing, Pikmin, Fantasy Life, Kingdom Hearts, Skyrim, Civilization V, and Stardew Valley. She loves nights in with her boyfriend cooking Mexican food, watching Studio Ghibli movies, and going head-to-head in their favorite games. Mischa might not beat you in Super Smash Bros, but she owns a replica of Arwen’s sword and Hermione’s wand, so... don’t rub it in too much.

Related Topics
  • alan wake
  • Final Fantasy XV
  • Mario Kart 8
  • Pikmin 2
  • Uncharted 3
You May Also Like
US China AI Race
View Post
  • 3 min
  • Finance
  • Gamedev
  • Industry
  • Mobile
  • Opinion

Pixel Wars: How the US-China AI Battle is Redefining Video Games

  • A9K Staff
  • January 29, 2025
A cluttered gaming shelf filled with classic video game cases stacked next to newly released remakes
View Post
  • 2 min
  • Gamedev
  • Opinion
  • Video Games

Gaming’s Remake Overload: Are Developers Running Out of Ideas?

  • A9K Staff
  • January 23, 2025
video game poster
View Post
  • 2 min
  • Gamedev
  • Industry

How to Create Your Own Epic Video Game Poster

  • A9K Staff
  • May 4, 2023
View Post
  • 3 min
  • Gamedev
  • Hardware
  • Industry

How does RNG work? 

  • A9K Staff
  • January 20, 2023
Shadow of the Colossus 5
View Post
  • 2 min
  • Announcements
  • Gamedev

Shadow of the Colossus Dev’s Next Game Will Be Another Remake

  • Mischa McGill
  • March 13, 2018
View Post
  • 3 min
  • Gamedev
  • Industry

GAMEOLOGY: Reviewing Attila’s Game Ideas

  • Mathew Falvai
  • February 12, 2018
View Post
  • 3 min
  • Gamedev
  • Opinion
  • Video

How Game Graphics Make You Feel, and the Uncanny Valley

  • Mathew Falvai
  • February 3, 2018
View Post
  • 3 min
  • Gamedev
  • Industry
  • Opinion
  • Video

GAMEOLOGY – Make it or Break it #2 – Bisector, Boolean Bash, Bribery Race

  • Mathew Falvai
  • January 26, 2018
1 comment
  1. Matthew Owen says:
    August 20, 2017 at 1:29 pm

    Hey man, Cup Noodles are OP.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

a90skid.com

11 User(s) Online
Read
  • GTA 6 Trailer to Debut on Netflix Before Wider Release, Take-Two CEO Says
  • TheGamerWebsite - Steam Leak Drops Over 12 TB Of Assets From Valve Games, Including Half-Life Episode 3 - Steam News
    Steam Leak Reportedly Exposes Over 12 TB of Valve Assets, Including Half-Life Episode 3
  • AION 2 - Scheduled Maintenance Tue Oct 6 / Wed Oct 7 - Steam News
    AION 2 Schedules Oct. 6 Server Maintenance, Temporarily Disabling Login
Written by
Mischa McGill
A90KID.COM

VIDEO GAMES COMMUNITY & ENTERTAINMENT

A 90s Kid is an active website and media channel, dedicated to providing you information and entertainment related to the video games industry

Navigation
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Refund and Returns Policy
  • Collaborations & Sponsored Content
Recent Articles
  • EA and Full Circle Set Limits on Skate Mods That Bypass Paid Content October 10, 2026
  • AION 2 Server Transfers Set to Begin October 13 After Maintenance October 10, 2026
  • O’Dell Harmon Jr. and Kristen Zitani discussed games October 10, 2026
  • Delta Force Update Goes Live Oct. 9 With 1v1 Duel Mode in Operations October 10, 2026
  • CONTROL Resonant Nominated in Two Golden Joystick Awards Categories October 10, 2026
A 90s Kid
© 2024

Input your search keywords and press Enter.