McDonald’s has teamed up with the gaming world for its latest menu shake-up, bringing in items inspired by some of Xbox’s biggest titles. Launching Tuesday 25 August, the collaboration brings six new or returning items to menus in-store, each one drawing inspiration from a different game.
Two new savoury additions with a gaming twist are hitting the menu.
Leading the new lineup are Black Pepper & Garlic McNuggets, inspired by the long-running game series Halo. Made from 100 per cent chicken breast in a crispy coating with a spicy kick of black pepper and garlic, they’re available in six, nine or twenty piece portions, served alongside a sweet and sour dip. The nuggets were originally introduced by McDonald’s Japan, and their arrival in the UK is a nod to a fictional food item featured in the Halo games.
Alongside the nuggets comes a new Fiery Buffalo Dip, a tangy buffalo style sauce with a noticeable kick, designed to pair well with Chicken Selects. This one takes its inspiration from a fiery boss character featured in World of Warcraft.
View this post on Instagram
There’s a cheesy side inspired by a post-apocalyptic classic.
Fans of Fallout will recognise the inspiration behind the new Blamco Cheesy Potato Bites, golden, crispy potato rings with a soft, fluffy centre packed with melted cheese, served with ketchup for a sweet and tangy finish. The name and concept are a nod to a fictional packaged food item that appears throughout the Fallout game series.
New drinks and desserts round out the launch.
To wash it all down, there’s a new Sour Cherry Fizz, combining sugar-free Sprite Zero with a sour cherry flavoured syrup served over ice. The drink takes its inspiration from the cherry blossom scenery found in the Japanese setting of the racing game Forza Horizon 6.
On the dessert side, a new Candy Crush themed McFlurry joins the menu, featuring soft dairy ice cream swirled with chocolate covered biscuit pieces and a rich chocolate sauce, inspired by the hugely popular mobile puzzle game. Rounding things off is a returning McCafé Sugar Donut, presented in limited edition packaging as a tribute to a fan favourite character from the hero shooter game Overwatch.
View this post on Instagram
The collaboration goes beyond the menu.
The gaming crossover doesn’t stop at food. McDonald’s has also launched a set of daily challenges through the MyMcDonald’s app, letting customers earn digital badges, unlock exclusive food offers, and access weekend reward drops as they complete different tasks.
Prizes on offer stretch beyond food too, with gamers able to win a car voucher for Forza Horizon 6 to add a new vehicle to their in-game collection, along with a themed in-game bundle for Fallout 76. There’s also a chance to get hold of a returning limited time item in World of Warcraft that’s previously proven popular with players.
Whether you’re more interested in the food or the in-game rewards, this collaboration offers a fairly unusual crossover between fast food and gaming culture, and it’s available for a limited time only from 25 August.
