Mobile-game developer Pocket Gems is bringing NFL action to mobile devices with the help of McDonald’s.
Today, the studio is revealing NFL Runner: Football Dash for iOS and Android devices. It’s an endless-running title like Temple Run from developer MunkyFun, but it features real NFL teams. Players must guide their footballer down the field while avoiding linebackers and collecting power-ups and other items.
Starting Sept. 23, McDonald’s will begin including special power-up codes for NFL Runner with certain menu items. This will expose the game to the millions of people who eat at the fast-food chain.
“It’s terrific to work with the NFL at the start of the football season to launch NFL Runner, which combines the fun of the endless runner genre with sports,” Pocket Gems chief executive Ben Liu said in a statement. “It has also been fantastic to work with McDonald’s to create a promotional model that provides players with codes found on millions of physical products to unlock free power-ups in the game.”
The NFL currently only has an exclusive deal with Electronic Arts for officially licensed football games on console, but it is free to make deals like this for mobile and social games.
“Pocket Gems has a strong track record as a successful developer and publisher of engaging mobile games, and we’re excited to work with them for NFL Runner,” NFL director of media strategy David Healy said. “We’re also thrilled to be working with McDonald’s to bring millions of fans unique power-ups within the game. The collaboration between the NFL, Pocket Gems, and McDonald’s will make NFL Runner an innovative and fun new way for our fans to connect with their favorite team.”
McDonald’s will include the codes on some of its drink cups and the boxes for the restaurant’s new chicken Mighty Wings.
“McDonald’s customers and NFL fans share a passion for fun, exciting experiences and this game brings our customers one step closer to NFL action,” said Barbara Fitzgerald, Director of Marketing, McDonald’s USA. “We’re thrilled to offer these unique power up opportunities on packaging for our new Mighty Wings, bringing the action and excitement of gameday to every day.”