The Fanatical logo symbolizes passion, energy, and enthusiasm for gaming, reflecting the brand’s core mission to offer gamers a wide selection of digital products and games. The emblem’s design includes elements that convey dynamism and modernity, highlighting the company’s focus on its audience’s current needs and interests.
Fanatical: Brand overview
Fanatical’s journey began in 2012, though its roots trace back further. The company was originally launched as Bundle Stars, a division of Focus Multimedia, a UK-based software distributor and publisher founded in 1995. Bundle Stars emerged when game bundles—collections of games sold at discounted prices—gained popularity among gamers. The founders saw an opportunity to create a platform that offered quality games at affordable prices, with a focus on indie developers and lesser-known titles.
In 2012, Bundle Stars quickly grew by partnering with various publishers and game developers, offering unique products to its customers. The initial bundles were well-received by the gaming community, helping the company rapidly expand its user base.
Between 2013 and 2014, the platform continued to broaden its product offerings and improve its user interface. The company experimented with different bundles, including “mystery” bundles, where the contents were revealed only upon purchase. These innovations helped Bundle Stars stand out in the competitive digital game distribution market.
The year 2015 marked a major milestone for the company. The platform expanded beyond bundles by launching its online gaming store, allowing it to sell individual games at discounted prices. This move attracted more customers and increased revenue.
In 2016, the company continued to grow, establishing partnerships with key players in the gaming industry. The team also focused on building its social media presence and fostering a community around its brand. By the end of the year, the platform reached a significant achievement—one million active users.
A pivotal change came in 2017 when Bundle Stars rebranded as Fanatical on October 31. The rebranding reflected the company’s expanded product range and passion for gaming. A revamped website was launched along with the new name, offering an improved user experience and enhanced functionality.
The transition marked the beginning of a new era. The platform started adding major AAA titles to its catalog, in addition to indie games. The company also began offering pre-orders for upcoming games, bolstering its reputation in the digital distribution market.
In 2018, the focus was further developing the platform by enhancing its personalization and recommendation systems. The company also introduced a loyalty program, rewarding customers with points that could be redeemed for discounts on future purchases, fostering customer loyalty, and increasing repeat business.
In 2019, the platform’s global reach was significantly expanded by adapting it to different regions by supporting new languages and regional payment options. This effort significantly broadened its international audience.
In 2020, the platform continued to innovate in digital game distribution. The company introduced “Star Deals,” daily offers with discounts on popular games and other new deal formats. Enhanced content curation processes allowed the platform to offer customers more relevant and high-quality games.
In 2021, the company underwent a major change in ownership. Fandom, Inc., the world’s largest fan-driven content platform, acquired the gaming platform in March. This acquisition provided new opportunities for growth by leveraging Fandom’s audience and resources.
Following the acquisition, the platform operated as a separate brand, focusing on digital game distribution while integrating certain elements into the Fandom ecosystem. This integration helped expand and improve offerings to gamers.
By 2022, the company focused on enhancing the user experience and expanding the game library. It also launched a special initiative to support indie games on the platform, reaffirming its commitment to promoting independent developers.
As of early 2023, the platform had established itself as a significant player in the digital game distribution industry. The company continued strengthening its partnerships with publishers and developers, expanding its global reach, and introducing innovative offerings to gamers.
The story highlights how a company that started with the simple idea of offering game bundles evolved into a full-fledged digital distribution platform capable of competing with industry giants. Through continuous innovation, a focus on gamers’ needs, and the ability to adapt to changing market conditions, the company grew from a small startup to a major force in the global gaming industry.
Meaning and History
What is Fanatical?
Fanatical, originally known as Bundle Stars, is a revolutionary UK-based online video game retailer offering a wide range of games, bundles, and downloadable content across multiple platforms, as well as a variety of ebooks and e-courses for players of all levels. Fanatical is the largest digital gaming hub for players of all skill levels. The company offers a wide range of games, bundles, and downloadable content (DLC) for Windows PC, Mac, and Linux platforms.
2012 – 2017
2017 – today
The logo of the British online retailer Fanatical, which specializes in video games, e-books, and other digital goods, showcases a transition to a vibrant and modern style. It features a classic combination of two contrasting colors, each playing a crucial role in the design. The brand’s symbol is orange, with white geometric elements on the background forming the letter “F” through negative space. The company name is written in black, but a softer graphite shade is used instead of charcoal black. The font is a custom variant of uppercase letters with sharp edges on the letters “F,” “A,” “N,” and “L.”
The orange color captures attention, drawing the eye to the logo. The letter “F,” hidden in the white shapes, resembles a small puzzle that is pleasant to solve. The sharp edges of the letters “F,” “A,” “N,” and “L” give the text a digital code-like appearance, emphasizing the connection to the world of technology and gaming. The graphite color of the name makes it more appealing and modern.