darkSpyro

Another upcoming release has been unveiled, on the 23rd of March Nitro Freeze Blade is due to be made available exclusively at Target. Forum member star kitty spotted listings for a single pack of Nitro Freeze Blade as well as a single pack of Nitro Magna Charge for the first time.


These look to be arriving two weeks before the Easter themed packs, although in the UK Amazon have given those three a release date of the 7th of March.

Frito-Lay are gearing up to launch a new Skylanders promotion, this time instead of simply winning a toy Skylander you'll get the chance to actually name one. There'll be a choice of three Skylanders who are each in desperate need of a name, the grand prize for the best name is a $100,000 scholarship. The promotion is due to start on the 24th of February.

And some perhaps disappointing news on the next game announcement front, GamerHub.tv have posted a short interview with Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg where he seems to confirm that they won't be announcing a new Skylanders game at Toy Fair this year, instead waiting for "later in the year" to reveal it. So it's still coming this year and still being made by Toys For Bob but we'll have to wait a bit longer to find out what it is going to be.

Forum member Diggeh has spotted that Best Buy have posted pre-orders for several new characters in special "Spring Edition" egg shaped packages. So far only Springtime Trigger Happy, Punk Shock, and Fryno have been revealed as part of this wave but it is unclear if this is going to be the entire selection of Skylanders in the wave or if these are just the first few. They're due for release on the 6th of April, which is still an agonising two month wait away.


Springtime Trigger Happy is an in-game variant, much like Jolly Bumble Blast, who not only looks different to the regular Big Bang Trigger Happy but he will also unlock the Springtime Hat in your collection once you place him on the Portal of Power.


With the annual American International Toy Fair happening on the 16th-19th of February we should be expecting news of the next entry to the Skylanders series any day now.



Curse are exclusively giving away half a million beta keys for The Elder Scrolls Online. Curse Premium members can get access to the keys today and everyone else from tomorrow (the 6th). The giveaway and beta period only lasts until the 10th of February so act quick!

The first stages of Wave 3 of the toys for Skylanders SWAP Force are starting to hit shops, the five new core Skylanders toys hit Toys R Us yesterday in the United States.



Here's what makes up the rest of Wave 3, they're not quite yet available in the US but are already available in some other countries like Germany and Italy.









The winners of the Frito-Lay sweepstakes for Quickdraw Rattle Shake are starting to report receiving their prizes so be on the lookout for it if you've won one (or more).



In other Wave 3 news, today saw the introduction of the five new Wave 3 characters in Skylanders Lost Islands, you can now get Rubble Rouser, Stink Bomb, Spy Rise, Dune Bug and Wind-Up in the game, which means that at long last it is possible to match the Earth element Sugarbats. Last Friday saw a specially squeezed in Christmas update for the game as well:

• Jolly Bumble Blast makes his festive debut. It'll be 250 Gems if you don't have the toy.
  
• A new SWAP Force House has been added, buy them for 350 Gems to put your SWAP Force characters in for the chance to earn Gold, Gems, Energy or Kingdom XP.
  
• Another new companion, Fiznik, he'll double the Kingdom XP you get for the rather pricey sum of 3000 Gems.
  

And earlier last week they posted the regular Monday update.

• New companion Diggs who you can use to trade in large amounts of Gold and Energy for Gems once a day. He'll cost you 2000 Gems but is said to be only available until January 1st.
  
• The Legendary Skylanders are here, all four of the new Legendaries from SWAP Force have been added. That's Legendary Night Shift, Legendary Free Ranger, Legendary Grim Creeper and Legendary Zoo Lou.
  
• A new system has been added so that Kingdom XP is still moderately useful after reaching the maximum kingdom level of 40. Your bar will again start to fill up as you gather it and will eventually give you some bonus gems and wish stones as a reward.
  

The Skylanders Collection Vault also recently saw an update which allows you to now add characters to your collection even if you don't have their webcode.

Skylanders: Lost Islands gets a wintry update this week.

• Softpaw, another character from Swap Force who's joined to become a Companion. He'll double the number of Sugarbats you get for just 50 Gems.
  
• Quickdraw Rattle Shake follows Jade Fire Kraken in being released before the toy. He'll cost you 300 Gems.
  
• Snowler Brawl's Hut gives this month's Alter Ego a place to stay for 350 Gems.
  
• The Snow Globe House has returned, it costs 500 Gems and houses 600 Mabu. Perhaps wait for another Premium House Sale.
  
• A timed quest gives away another new Alter Ego "Holiday Wash Buckler" if you own Skylanders: Battlegrounds.
  
• And your islands have been given a suitable new winter style.
  

Skylanders: Lost Islands kicks off December with a new companion, a new Skylander and a brand new Alter Ego.

• Tessa, another new companion from Skylanders: Swap Force, has joined and for the price of 3000 of your Gems she'll boost the Mabu population by 25%.
  
• Jade Fire Kraken has been added, despite the fact that he hasn't even been released as a real toy yet. It'll cost the usual 300 Gems or a spin to get him.
  
• Snowler Brawl was released yesterday as December's Alter Ego version of Roller Brawl, throw your Wishstones in the Wishin' Well to win her!
  

A brand new free official app has hit the iTunes Store, called Skylanders Collection Vault it allows you to catalog your collection by entering their webcodes.


The festive themed Jolly Bumble Blast has been given a release date, according to GameStop it's due out on the 7th of December in the US, Best Buy have it listed for the 8th.


The recently Androidified Skylanders: Lost Islands has seen another of its weekly updates, since Thanksgiving is this week in the US it's the Week of the Bird!

• A new Bird House for your "Bird" Skylanders, they'll cost you 200 Gems each. Only available until Sunday!
  
• During the Week of the Bird all of your Bird Skylanders will get double gold.
  
• On Friday morning all Skylanders will be 80% off, it runs from 4AM to 12PM so try to get on early if you want to buy one.
  
• December's new Alter Ego is going to appear in the Wishin' Well on Sunday so make sure to have won Birthday Bash by then!
  

Skylanders: Lost Islands has joined Cloud Patrol and Battlegrounds in finally launching on Android! They've also provided the usual weekly update:

• New companions Gorm and Tuk who double gold and hero points for Swap Force Skylanders, they cost 400 Gems.
  
• Enchanted Hoot Loop becomes available if you don't have the actual toy, it'll set you back either 300 Gems or the cost of a spin.
  
• And three new timed quests for shrines involving Avril, Nitro Magna Charge and Birthday Bash.
  

To celebrate a year since the launch of Skylanders: Lost Islands they're gearing up for even more birthday celebrations this week.

• Another character from Skylanders: Swap Force becomes a companion, for 400 Gems Avril will double the kudos awarded to you from gifts and visiting.
  
• November's Alter Ego now has Birthday Bash's Hut to use.
  
• Nitro Magna Charge is available to those without the toy, it'll cost the usual 300 Gems or a spin.
  
• A couple of timed quests, one for last week's companion, Wheellock, and one for last week's new Skylander, Volcanic Eruptor.
  
• The #1 Fans are returning for free at the weekend as part of the Birthday Celebration that'll also offer 50% off all companions and have past alter egos in the Wishin' Well as top prizes.
  

Some mobile Skylanders news again. After last week's update to the iOS version Skylanders: Battlegrounds has now also joined Cloud Patrol in becoming available on Android.

The Dark Days event in the still-iOS-exclusive Skylanders: Lost Islands has concluded and a new companion has arrived.

• New companion Marshal Wheellock from Skylanders: Swap Force has joined in, he doubles the Hero Points you get but'll cost 900 Gems.
  
• If you don't have the toy then fear not, Volcanic Eruptor can now be bought for 250 Gems.
  
• This week's Super Tuesday has brought back all of the Giant and Sidekick Houses for one day only.
  
• And last Friday saw the release of Birthday Bash, the new Alter Ego for November. Win him in the Wishin' Well all month.
  

And the Frito-Lay sweepstakes for Quickdraw Rattle Shake has officially begun, albeit with a bit of a rocky start.

Toys R Us are due to release their remaining Legendary Skylanders from Skylanders: Swap Force over the next few weeks. According to an advert Legendary Zoo Lou will be out first on the 3rd of November (this Sunday) followed by Legendary Night Shift a week after on the 10th.


Last week saw the long quiet Skylanders: Battlegrounds finally get an update, it added the third chapter at last as well as implementing the new Swap Force characters.

Just a small update to Skylanders: Lost Islands this week.

• Dark Stealth Elf and Dark Blast Zone are now purchasable in game. They cost 200 and 300 Gems.
  
• A new house, Dark House, houses any of the Dark Skylanders in the same way the Dragon Lair houses dragons. It'll cost you the same 1200 Gems though.
  

Remember that November's alter ego will be appearing on Friday but that also means that Thursday is your last chance to get Skeletal Cynder before she disappears from the Wishin' Well.