Minion Rush Hits One Billion Downloads
Gameloft, Illumination and Universal Pictures’ Minions Franchise Game Becomes First Film-Inspired Mobile Game to Reach 1 Billion Downloads, Joining Exclusive Circle of Mobile Games to Reach This Milestone
Paris, France, June 2, 2021 – Gameloft, a leader in the creation and publishing of games, in collaboration with Illumination and Universal Games and Digital Platforms, is thrilled to announce that Minion Rush, the mobile game inspired by Illumination and Universal Pictures’ Despicable Me franchise, has received more than 1 billion downloads across iOS, Android, and other supporting devices. In the eight years since launch, Minion Rush has become one of the most popular and widely downloaded mobile games of all time and is also the first mobile game based on a film property to reach this milestone.
Launched on June 10, 2013, Minion Rush offered fun and accessible runner gameplay with the signature mischief and subversive humor of the Minions. Over the last eight years, players continue to log in and play their favorite mobile game, experiencing fresh content and new features introduced on a regular basis. To date, fans have collected 90 trillion bananas and completed more than 216 billion miles running in-game, for a grand total of 3.4 billion hours spent playing the game.
In celebration, the team behind Minion Rush is rolling out a commemorative Celebration Event, beginning June 2, 2021, where players will work together to collect 33 billion in-game bananas, to unlock a very special Minions costume. It also features the long-awaited and requested introduction of two new playable Minions, Bob and Stuart. More information on the event can be found here.
“That’s right, with a ‘B!’ as in a BILLION downloads,” said Stas Sadkeyev, Minion Rush Game Manager from Gameloft Kharkiv. “B as in bananas, B as in boggling, B as in Bob, B as in a billion players! We are so honored to be such an important part of the Minions story, speaking to and engaging with players and fans from all around the world. Very rarely do games reach this milestone, and everyone here at Gameloft is humbled to have made it.”
“This remarkable milestone is a testament to the strength and longevity of this franchise and our close collaboration with the teams at Gameloft and Universal,” said Chris Meledandri, Founder and CEO of Illumination.
“When we partnered with Gameloft to bring a Minions game to fans, we knew something special was going to be made due to our shared ambition of bringing a thoughtful, authentic and humor-infused experience to market,” said Jim Molinets, SVP of Production, Universal Games and Digital Platforms. “But reaching 1 billion downloads? That’s only something Gru would aim for! The game’s tremendous growth and success since 2013 has really been fueled by fan loyalty and appreciation, and we will continue to entertain our players as they deepen their connection with the beloved franchise.”
Minion Rush is free to download on the App Store, and Google Play, with in-app purchases, available here.
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About Gameloft
Leader in the development and publishing of games, Gameloft® has established itself as one of the top innovators in its field since 2000. Gameloft creates games for all digital platforms, two of which are featured in the “Top 10 iOS Games by All-Time Worldwide Downloads” from App Annie. Gameloft operates its own established franchises such as Asphalt®, Dragon Mania Legends, Modern Combat and Dungeon Hunter and also partners with major rights holders including Disney®, LEGO®, Universal, Illumination Entertainment, Hasbro®, Fox Digital Entertainment, Mattel®, Lamborghini® and Ferrari®. Gameloft distributes its games in over 100 countries and employs 3,600 people worldwide. Every month, 70 million unique users can be reached by advertisers in Gameloft games with Gameloft for brands, a leading B2B offering dedicated to brands and agencies. Gameloft is a Vivendi company.
About Illumination
Illumination, founded by Academy Award® nominee Chris Meledandri in 2007, is one of the entertainment industry’s leading producers of event-animated films, including Despicable Me, the most successful animated franchise in cinematic history. The company’s releases include two of the top 10 animated films of all time, and its iconic, beloved franchises—infused with memorable and distinct characters, global appeal and cultural relevance—have grossed more than $6.25 billion worldwide.
Illumination, which has an exclusive financing and distribution partnership with Universal Pictures, is the creator of the world of Despicable Me. The franchise includes Minions, the fourth-highest-grossing animated film of all time and the most profitable film in Universal’s history, as well as the Academy Award®- nominated Despicable Me 2 and Despicable Me 3, which made more than $1 billion at the global box office.
Illumination has launched two additional original properties that captivated audiences worldwide: The Secret Life of Pets, which achieved the best opening for an original movie, animated or otherwise, in U.S. history, and the global smash, Sing. In 2018, Illumination’s Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch had the biggest opening weekend of any Christmas-themed movie in history, followed, in June 2019, by The Secret Life of Pets 2. Illumination’s upcoming films include Sing 2 in December 2021 and Minions: The Rise of Gru in July 2022.
About Universal Games and Digital Platforms
Universal’s Games and Digital Platforms group leverages the vast portfolio of IP and characters from NBCUniversal. The Games and Digital Platforms group is a business unit of Universal Brand Development, which is chartered with globally expanding the company’s intellectual properties, franchises, characters and stories through innovative physical and digital products, content and consumer experiences. The company’s extensive portfolio includes properties created by Universal Pictures, Illumination, DreamWorks Animation, and NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. Universal Brand Development is part of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. www.universalbranddevelopment.com All trademarks referenced above are owned by their respective trademark owners.
