Summary
KFCis continuing its gaming-related antics by releasing a special Tamagotchi-like digital pet in Spain that tasks players with taking care of a virtual drumstick. KFC has a long and complicated history with video games, from tie-ins to popular titles likeDiablo 4to mock consoles that could hypothetically keep a player’s chicken dinner warm during intense gaming sessions. Colonel Sanders has even made a handful of appearances in actual video games, ranging from this year’sFunko Fusionto a dating sim where he can dateLady Dimitrescu ofResident Evil Villagefame.
Another gaming-related area that KFC has ventured into is the realm of digital pets, a genre popularized by the Tamagotchi toys of the late 90s and early 2000s. These small keychain devices required players to care for a virtual animal of some kind by feeding it and cleaning up after it as it grows through various life stages. The original Tamagotchi proved to be very popular in both its native Japan and abroad, spawning spin-offs likeDigimonand continuing to this day. There have even been video game-brandedTamagotchi for franchises likeKingdom HeartsandPac-Man.
Late last month, KFC released a Tamagotchi-like device exclusively through a pop-up Chicken Store at the Plaza de Callao in Madrid, Spain, eventually making it available on the fast-food chain’s app and website (viaDesignTAXI News). Called the “Eduardochi,” this novel keychain game is in the shape of a chicken drumstick, and instead ofthe usual Tamagotchi pet,the player must take care of a fried poultry limb as it grows. As of December 3, Eduardochi will be offered at KFC restaurants across Spain for a limited time for €3.99 (around $4.22) with the purchase of a menu item.
KFC Tamagotchi Has Players Raising Their Dinner
For those unfamiliar with the origin of this strange concept, the recently released KFC “Eduardochi” is based on a viral meme from 2021 that saw internet users give Spanish names to everyday items. A fried chicken drumstick was dubbed “Eduardo,” andKFC eventually ran with itby creating a mascot by the same name. At one point, KFC released a special perfume “Eau D’uardo,” which was themed after the secret blend of herbs and spices the franchise is known for.
Eduardochi is the latest step of not only KFC’s “Eduardo” trend, but also the restaurant’s increasingly tongue-in-cheek video game endeavors - which at one point nearly led toTekkendirector Katsuhiro Haradaadding the Colonel as a guest combatant. There is currently no word if Eduardochi will be released outside of Spain, but there is a good chance that some of the devices will end up on eBay and other outlets onceKFC’s latest game promotion is over.
