Big Bad Toy Store Officially Announces BigBadLaunchPad

Big Bad Toy Store has officially pulled back the curtain on BigBadLaunchPad, a new platform that blends traditional pre-orders, collector feedback, stretch-goal-style product expansions, and crowdfunding-style campaigns into a single destination built specifically around the collectibles hobby, and the concept behind it is genuinely interesting because it puts collectors in the driver’s seat when it comes to deciding which products actually move forward into production. The core idea is straightforward: if a project doesn’t hit its goal, it doesn’t go, which means companies can gauge real demand before committing to a full production run while collectors get a direct say in what gets made. That’s a model we’ve seen work in other spaces, but having it housed within a major retailer like Big Bad Toy Store adds a layer of trust and infrastructure that standalone crowdfunding platforms sometimes lack. What makes this particularly compelling for the hobby is how it could open doors for deeper cuts, more niche characters, and riskier projects that might not survive a traditional retail pitch but could absolutely find their audience when collectors are the ones voting with their wallets. It also creates a space where companies can test the waters on new ideas, build anticipation around upcoming releases, and potentially unlock additional accessories or variants through stretch goals, which is something that speaks directly to how this community already engages with product reveals and pre-order cycles. I’m curious to see how collectors respond to this kind of direct involvement in the greenlight process, because if it works the way it’s designed to, BigBadLaunchPad could become a meaningful new channel for getting products made that might otherwise never see the light of day. We are all for it!

Three Ways to Launch

Cleared for Launch – “Confirmed. We’re a go.”
These products are already confirmed for production. Collectors can follow the project for updates, react to it, and place orders while the project is active.

Make it Bigger & Badder – “More waiting on standby.”
The core product lineup is already confirmed, but additional collector support can unlock extra products, bonuses, or other additions to the project.

Collectors Decide – “No go unless the goal is reached.”
These projects operate more like crowdfunding. A project must attract enough collector support and reach its funding goal before the launch window closes. If the goal is reached, orders are locked in and the project moves forward. If the goal is not reached, orders are canceled and customers are not charged.

How to Participate

Collectors can participate in several ways. They can use reaction buttons to provide feedback without affecting the project’s launch plan, follow projects to receive email updates and milestone notifications, and share projects to help attract additional collectors.

Collectors can also lock in a pre-order during the launch window, including special Founder pricing when offered. For Collectors Decide projects, payment is only collected if the project successfully reaches its funding goal by the end of the launch window.

Overall, BigBadLaunchPad combines traditional pre-orders, collector feedback, stretch-goal-style product expansions, and crowdfunding-style projects into a single platform designed specifically around collectible products.

NPC (Non-Playable Characters) Wave 1

BigBadLaunchPad is officially up and running, and one of the first projects is already showing collectors exactly how the new platform can work. BigBadWorkShop’s NPC (Non-Playable Characters) Wave 1 is part of the Bigger & Badder program, with five figures already confirmed and additional characters available to unlock as collector support grows. The project has already reached 203% funding and cleared eight of its nine unlocks, with 30 days still remaining in the launch window.

NPC figures are not limited to a single storyline or universe. Each character is designed to work alongside a wide variety of 1/12 scale action figures, allowing collectors to create original environments and connect figures from across their collections. Build a criminal organization around the Mob Boss. Stage a live report with the News Anchor. Create a school event with the Cheerleader. Deploy the SWAT Commander and SWAT accessory kit when the situation escalates. Display the figures individually or combine them to create a larger, evolving world. NPC is how you can bring every story to life. Check out the project here and place your order for NPC (Non-Playable Characters) Wave 1