When Games Become Commercials
Video games transport players into carefully crafted worlds, yet every so often, a familiar logo or product suddenly appears where it has no business being. The moments catch attention instantly, pulling reality into fiction in the most unexpected ways. They linger in memory precisely because they feel so out of place. Read on to explore 20 fascinating examples of random product placement that kept players talking long after the credits rolled.
Mk8DX | Bell cup | 2 Player Gameplay (Mario vs Luigi) | Mercedes Benz | 4K by Mario Bros World
1. Death Stranding - Monster Energy
Few expected Death Stranding to turn Monster Energy into the ultimate survival drink. Every refill magically becomes a Monster can, and the stash shows up only in Sam’s private quarters. Later versions dropped the branding entirely when the license expired.
Death Stranding - Drinking Monster Energy by GetRektNoob
2. Alan Wake - Energizer Batteries
In Alan Wake, even darkness bows to branding. Only Energizer batteries keep the flashlight alive, while Verizon logos glare from televisions and billboards. The ads feel strange in a horror story, especially since batteries drain unusually fast and make the product placement an awkward addition.
Product Placement: Alan Wake - Energizer by Aleix Risco
3. Fight Night Round 3 - Burger King
Nothing says boxing like the Burger King mascot pacing ringside in Fight Night Round 3. Once you achieve him as your coach, he cheers fighters on in the recognizable uniform. One goal even name-drops the brand, though oddly, no Burger King food ever shows up.
Fight Night Round 3 (PS3) Burger King Event “The Natural” vs. "KO" Rey Mo by FLOODEDxOUT
4. Burnout Paradise - Obama Campaign Ads
During the 2008 U.S. election, Xbox 360 copies of Burnout Paradise featured Obama’s campaign plastered across in-game billboards. Spotting political ads while racing down highways felt jarringly out of place. However, once the election ended, the signs vanished completely.
BURNOUT PARADISE | Xbox 360 Gameplay by BenedictPlays
5. Fortnite - Samsung Galaxy Phones
Samsung Galaxy branding shows up on the battle bus and is scattered across the map, making players double-take in the middle of a match. The sudden appearance feels wedged into the fantasy chaos of Fortnite, and fans often call out how oddly the ads stand out.
Samsung Galaxy S25 - Fortnite Brand Integration by ReachPlayers by ReachPlayers
6. Theme Hospital - Kit Kat
Hospitals aren’t known for candy, yet Theme Hospital fills its halls with vending machines plastered with Kit Kat logos. To add to the confusion, the machines don’t even hand out the chocolate. Developers admitted the choice came down to one thing—instant recognition.
Theme Hospital Bloaty Head by mike65085
7. Pikmin 2 - Duracell
Among Pikmin’s fantasy treasures sits a massive Duracell battery, used as a puzzle element despite its odd scale. Nothing explains how it belongs in this world. It stands as the only real brand in the environment, looking like a relic to the tiny Pikmin.
27 Treasures that Changed in Pikmin 2 (Switch) by ModernXP
8. Zool: Ninja Of The Nth Dimension - Chupa Chups
Almost every part of Zool bursts with Chupa Chups logos, plastered across menus, backgrounds, and levels. The main menu itself resembles a candy billboard. None of this branding connects to the plot, so it makes players joke that the lollipops overshadow the ninja hero entirely.
Zool - Ninja of the Nth Dimension: F*ck You Bees! | Nostalgic Pirates by NostalgicPirates
9. Tony Hawk’s Ride - Stride Gum
Stride Gum logos pop up across skater gear and even on ramps in Tony Hawk’s Ride. They add nothing to gameplay mechanics, standing out only for visibility. That bright green color also clashes with the game’s style and shows it exists purely for marketing.
Tony Hawks RIDE Gameplay [HD] video game trailer by gamezplay
10. Judge Dredd: Dredd vs. Death - Red Bull
The docks level of Judge Dredd: Dredd vs. Death throws players off with Red Bull cans and crates stacked around like someone stocked up mid-apocalypse. The opening cutscene even zooms in on a crushed can, yet the game doesn't give a single explanation why.
Judge Dredd: Dredd vs. Death【FULL GAME】walkthrough | Longplay by Global Gaming
11. Skate 3 - Miracle Whip
Players grinding ramps in Skate 3 often face Miracle Whip banners splashed across billboards and obstacles. The ads feel bizarre in a skateboarding game, since mayonnaise never plays a role in tricks or challenges. Skaters also never eat it, but the branding appears everywhere.
Achievement Guide: Skate 3 - Don't be so Mayo (Miracle Whip) | Rooster Teeth by Achievement Hunter
12. Mario Kart 8 - Mercedes-Benz
A free DLC in Mario Kart 8 added a sleek Mercedes-Benz GLA to the roster. The shiny luxury car looked hilariously misplaced among rainbow-colored tracks and cartoon racers. Nintendo leaned into the oddity further by releasing live-action commercials with Mario behind the wheel.
Wii U - Mario Kart 8 Mercedes-Benz DLC by Nintendo of America
13. Final Fantasy XV - Nissin Cup Noodle
Billboards, items, and quests in Final Fantasy XV revolve around Nissin Cup Noodles. Characters obsess over toppings in a side quest called “The Perfect Cup,” while a DLC hat puts an entire ramen cup on your head. It’s blatant and hilarious.
Final fantasy 15 Nissin Cup Noodle? by Daily Motivator
14. Crazy Taxi - Pizza Hut
Passengers in Crazy Taxi often demand rides to Pizza Hut, and the game shows fully branded restaurants as drop-off points. Other stores like KFC and Levi's appear in the same way. However, the dialogue ignores the product completely, and players never even order the food.
Crazy Taxi Gameplay - "You DO like Pizza Hut" by Flock Of Nerds
15. Saints Row IV - Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups pop up in Saints Row IV as both collectibles and ammo. Watching candy wrappers fuel an action-packed open world turns the placement into a running joke. The contrast between sweets and over-the-top violence couldn't be more glaring.
Saints Row IV: Re-Elected Free Roam Gameplay PS4 PART 1 by Karate Bear
16. Enter The Matrix - Powerade
Enter The Matrix slips in a surprising amount of Powerade branding during cutscenes. Characters casually drink the sports beverage while discussing mission-critical details, as if hydration suddenly mattered to saving the world. This product doesn’t impact the gameplay in any way.
Enter the Matrix | Pt. 9 The Powerade Plant by MrNerdyLps
17. Homefront - Hooters
Homefront features Hooters restaurants fully intact, complete with glowing orange signage amid a war-torn America. The sight of a real-world chain in such a grim shooter gave players whiplash, and the inclusion stirred controversy for clashing so heavily with the game's dark themes.
[Homefront] Hooters by Holy Cactus
18. Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory - Axe Body Spray
One mission in Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory lights up with a giant neon Axe sign that seems completely out of place. Bathrooms across different levels also feature Axe cans scattered around. The stealth gameplay never even acknowledges them.
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory Axe Deodorant Easter Egg by Hawk
19. Final Fantasy XV - American Express
The Japanese edition of Final Fantasy XV displays American Express banners in certain areas, with characters even interacting at Amex-branded points of interest. A modern financial service placed inside a fantasy RPG was completely out of place.
20. Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception - Subway
Multiplayer in Uncharted 3 came branded with Subway logos on clothing, drinks, and menus. To push the partnership further, players heard the “five-dollar-footlong” slogan in-game, while a sweepstakes tied in-game rewards to sandwich purchases.
Subway's Uncharted 3 TV Promo (Better times, right Chazington?) by Cregan4584
