Barbie manufacturer Mattel took a hit this week after its superstar doll failed to deliver. The doll and its many variants have been losing momentum since her latest 15 minutes in the spotlight following the 2023 hit movie "Barbie." Despite efforts to create buzz around the Barbie brand — including a diabetes Barbie and an autism Barbie — gross billings for Barbie products slid 11% last year, following a similar decline in 2024. Mattel announced plans to spend around $160 million to acquire the other half of mobile games studio Mattel 163, a joint venture between Mattel and the Chinese internet and video game company NetEase. Mattel plans to make more "games based on Mattel IP that drive sustained engagement for fans," Kreiz said in a statement.

Source: Los Angeles Times February 14, 2026 05:27 UTC