Video game commercialsare no new thing in the gaming industry, as they’ve been used to promote video games since the early days of console gaming. Nevertheless, sometimes games or consoles need a little marketing push to catch people’s attention. That’s where celebrity endorsements come in, helping advertise video games with star power.
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Over the years, plenty of high-profile celebrities have starred in ad campaigns or commercials promoting various video games. While some showcase genuine celebrity gamers, others promote in-game brand deals and features. These ten commercials starring celebrities are the most memorable and by far the most effective in terms of promotion.
10Brie Larson For Nintendo Switch
Brie Larson, known for her roles inRoomandShort-Term 12, as well as her status as Captain Marvel in the MCU, hasn’t kept her love of video games a secret. Particularly during the first COVID-19 lockdown, Larson was active on social mediashowcasing herAnimal Crossing: New Horizonstownand campaigning to play Samus in aMetroidmovie.
Nintendo capitalized on Larson’s love for Nintendo by featuring her in an ad for the Nintendo Switch later in 2020. In the ad, Larson spends her time in quarantine playingFortnite,Ring Fit Adventureand visiting her friends' islands inAnimal Crossing. Odds are, this ad isn’t much different from how Larson’s days normally looked in 2020.
9Annie Murphy For Nintendo Switch
After starting her morning withRing Fit Adventure, Murphy is defeated by her real-life mother inClubhouse Gamesandenjoys a fun afternoon withJust Dance 2021. These types of celebrity endorsements show not only the limitless fun of Nintendo’s latest console but also how diverse its library of games is for any type of player, whether veteran or newcomer.
8Keanu Reeves For Cyberpunk 2077
The 2020 action RPGCyberpunk 2077had a beloved ad campaign by fans. Keanu Reeves, who features in the game as an important in-game character, played a big role in promoting the game. In one iconic moment at E3 in 2019, a clip of Reeves calling the game’s expansive world “breathtaking” went viral after a fan heckled Reeves by callinghimbreathtaking, too.
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Although the initial game’s release definitely didn’t live up to expectations, Reeves' appearance in promotional ads was beloved by Internet users of all kinds. Reeves' intense description of the action-packed game was worth the price of admission alone and perfectly captured the tone of the game many video game fans were excited to try out for themselves.
7A Celebrity Line-Up For World Of Warcraft
For some games, one celebrity endorsement is simply not enough to capture their games' energy.Leave it toWorld of Warcraftto recruit a surprising line-up of celebrities to show off their own characters in the MMORPG, albeit each promoting it with their own tone. Among them include Mr. T, Chuck Norris, Aubrey Plaza, Verne Troyer, and William Shatner.
Even the legendary Ozzy Osbourne appears in one of the ads, albeit his is more profanity-laden than anyone else’s. However, Aubrey Plaza’s is perhaps the standout, giving the type of energy fans of herParks & Recreationcharacter April Ludgate, will adore. It only makes us wonder if all these celebrities were ever part of the same guild at one point.
6Beyonce For Rhythm Heaven
In the commercial, a casually-dressed Beyonce lounges in a living room, playing the variousRhythm Heavenminigames on her Nintendo DS. Like many of Nintendo’s best ads, this commercial showcases the fun that could be had by players, even those as high-profile and busy as Beyonce. Plus, it’s iconic to see her impression of the Glee Club singers.
5Sam Worthington & Jonah Hill For Call Of Duty
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Despite their unlikely partnership, Worthington and Hill make great teammates during these commercials, which combine their live-action segments with in-game footage. Basketball star Dwight Howard also makes an appearance in the ad campaign as himself, which is scored by AC/DC music, making it the perfect encapsulation of theCall of Dutyfandom.
4Kate Upton For Game Of War
The commercials first aired during NFL’sThursday Night Footballand were continuous many times until Upton was replaced as the game’s spokesperson by Mariah Carey. Still, Upton obviously attracted a lot of attention to the mobile game, mostly from male players, due to her obvious sex appeal. This likely led toGame of War’s high gross upon its release.
3Celebrity Therapy For God Of War
While Travolta seems endearingly enthused about Stiller’s constant references to Kratos andGod of War: Ragnarok, LeBron James does a good job playing straight man as the only one weirded out by their behavior. Nevertheless, it’s a triple pairing that one wouldn’t expect to see in a commercial for any video game,let alone one likeGod of War.
2Pop Punk Stars For Band Hero
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The foursome turns their living room dance party into an arena show with Swift’s hit song “You Belong With Me,” promoting the appearance of Swift as a playable avatar in the game. Other avatars in the game include Adam Levine ofMaroon 5and the bandNo Doubt. WhileNo Doubtprotested its appearance in the game, Swift was heavily involved in its advertising.
1Robin & Zelda Williams For Ocarina Of Time 3D
It’s a little-known fact that Zelda Williams, the daughter of legendary comedian Robin Williams, was named afterThe Legend of Zelda. In a tribute to this, the father-and-daughter duo appeared in, one of Nintendo’s launch titles for the Nintendo 3DS.
Not only is this one of the sweetest celebrity appearances in a video game commercial, but it marked the beginning of a long collaboration between Zelda Williams and Nintendo. The comedian’s daughter later made appearances at the London Zelda Symphony Concert in 2011, and she and her father also helped promoteThe Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.
