Man United to release video game

Manchester United’s 1998 treble-winning football squad could soon be pitted against the club’s European Cup-winning side of 1968 through the extension of the Manchester United brand into computer games.

The club, which has licensed toys manufacturer Hasbro to create children’s games based on its growing brand, has revealed it is in talks with software development companies about the release of a Manchester United dedicated football video game.

The club has already launched Man-U-Nopoly, Hasbro’s football version of Monopoly. Merchandising director Steve Richards says the football club will now release a computerised game aimed at younger children and a more advanced game featuring realistic depictions of the team.

Richards refused to name the software companies involved in the projects but confirmed both games would be released next year at the latest.

Richards says the technology being used to create the advanced game could also be developed to pit the famous squad of 1968 against the club’s current crop of star players.

He added that 20 trial merchandise concessions in Debenhams department stores had performed well and would be rolled out to more outlets next year.