As KFC racks up its “just before Christmas” marketing, it has rolled out its own version of Tamagotchi, creating a viral stir. After all, nobody does it better, and fans are risking everything to get this new icon
It would be a poor decision to try to get a limited-edition Tamagotchi at the same time as you schedule a transatlantic flight during the holidays. However, one might be willing to make some sacrifices to include this virtual pet in a collection. In the last week, “Eduardochi,” a delicious take on the popular digital toy, has been causing a stir among the Tamagotchi fandom.
Eduardochi is somewhat similar to a Tamagotchi, even though Bandai does not officially license it. With four buttons instead of three, Eduardochi stands out from the crowd. It has the same routine requirements for eating, sleeping, and going potty as any other virtual pet. Like grilled or baked chicken thighs, it gets sick and requires medical treatment. Additionally, the presence of a baseball bat insignia suggests that Eduardochi may have his own collection of minigames.
Tamagotchi Becomes Official Image of KFC Christmas Ads
Even if the concept of a chicken thigh going to the bathroom is not based in reality, it seems to be successful in drawing clients to buy chicken and a virtual pet. An external creative team devised the concept for this collaboration to target a specific market. People who enjoy collecting virtual pets and don’t mind getting their hands dirty after indulging in delicious fried chicken.
In addition, Eduardo the drumstick gained popularity on the Spanish Internet in 2021 as a component of a larger prank. The anthropomorphized drumstick is actually something I’ve seen before. It involved two Tamas clutching 16-bit KFC buckets on the now-defunct Tamagotchi On app.
This seems like an early test run for this kind of advertising, given it was my first experience with the idea of businesses integrating into the Tamagotchi universe.
Initially available at a pop-up shop in Madrid, Spain, Eduardochi is now available at participating KFC locations across the city starting December 3. The cheapest branded virtual pet that I’ve seen recently costs about €4 each.
However, foreign collectors will have to pay a significantly higher price. On the secondary market, price gouging for the digital drumstick has already begun. Most products on eBay start at around $30, including the minimum delivery fee of $20.