Media Release

Glow Up Games® And HBO Present INSECURE®: THE COME UP GAME

Insecure

New York, NY, March 23, 2020 – Glow Up Games, a new creative tech studio founded by an all women of color team, announces their premier launch title: a free-to-play mobile game based on HBO’s popular series “Insecure.” Produced in partnership with HBO, INSECURE: THE COME UP GAME takes the world of Issa Dee and her friends and brings the friendships, drama, and misadventures to life. The game will be released this year to tie in with season four of the show, with new features and story content being added monthly.

With THE COME UP GAME, players will find themselves trying to realize their LA dreams, climbing from the club to the boardroom – and reflecting their journey through a rap creation game inspired by Issa’s own mirror rhymes in “Insecure.

“We could not be more excited to be working on INSECURE: THE COME UP GAME,” said Dr. Mitu Khandaker, CEO of Glow Up Games. “We’ve been inspired by the way that Issa Rae continues to make huge waves in television and media when it comes to telling diverse stories -- and we want to bring about the same kind of change for games! As huge fans of the show, we’re excited to help players become a part of Issa’s world -- and see themselves represented accurately.”

THE COME UP GAME is a perfect, natural extension of ‘Insecure.’ I'm so excited to give our viewers a chance to explore Issa Dee’s world,” said ‘Insecure’ star and creator Issa Rae. “The Glow Up Games team has been amazing to work with and it was such a rewarding experience to create this game alongside an all women of color-led team.”

“Throughout the three seasons of ‘Insecure,’ one thing we’ve heard over and over is how fans wish they could be friends with Issa, Molly, Kelli and Tiffany in real life. When Glow Up Games approached us about creating an in-world Insecure mobile game, we jumped on the opportunity,” said Will Price, Director of Licensing and Retail, HBO.  “THE COME UP GAME has surpassed our highest expectations and we can’t wait for fans to start playing in their own ‘Insecure’ universe!.”

The initial game release is an addictive rap word game that allows players to take the pen from Issa to create their own rhymes in front of the mirror and share them with friends. After downloading the game, players will receive new updates monthly adding new gameplay features and fresh storylines involving Issa, Molly, Kelli, and Tiffany. Players will pursue new love interests, battle neighborhood adversaries, and navigate messy situations.

Audio Direction for INSECURE: THE COME UP GAME is provided by Sammus (Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo), a rap artist and producer at the intersection of academia and Afrofuturism. The distinctive 3D style of the game is created by Ethan Redd of Virtuoso Neomedia, an independent multimedia artist and game designer.

INSECURE: THE COME UP GAME will be available on the App store and Google Play.

About Insecure: The Come Up Game

Are you ready to run LA?

Hustle, heart and hype are your tools to build your new life in Los Angeles. With Issa and her crew as your guides, players navigate the messy business of adulting - learning to define yourself, take time for self-care, cultivate your crew, and nurture your closest friends.

Features of Insecure: The Come Up Game

  • Unleash your inner rap star: Connect with your inner Mirror B*tch and hype yourself up for major events with a fast paced rhyme selection mini game.
  • Design your life: Who will you be? Select from hundreds of options for your personal style (hair, clothes, accessories), your career, and your friend circle.
  • Run Your City: Unlock dozens of LA locations to experience custom story arcs, exclusive product drops, and special musical cameos.
  • Impact Your Community: Support your friends, fight gentrification, create the culture –  dating is fun, but it’s only a part of your story.

INSECURE: THE COME UP GAME will be available for free on the App Store and Google Play upon release. For more information visit insecurethecomeupgame.com

 

About Glow Up Games

Glow Up Games is a games and creative technology studio building the future of interactive entertainment. Founded by Mitu Khandaker, Tara Mustapha, and Latoya Peterson, the studio produces beautifully crafted stories through games, mobile, AI, AR/VR and other emerging technologies. For diverse audiences, we create new worlds of possibility.

Glow Up Games is powered by the belief that the games and entertainment industry frequently forget about the power of stories just outside of the mainstream. The three founders have spent more than a decade individually shaping entertainment through innovative applications of technology and distinctive storytelling. By combining talents, they seek to advance the industry by centering overlooked voices and leveraging new technologies to craft more powerful experiences.

 

About HBO

HBO Licensing & Retail, a division of Home Box Office, Inc., partners with best-in-class licensees around the world to give HBO's global audience new and exciting ways to engage with their favorite shows. The division leverages iconic, award-winning HBO programs such as Game of Thrones, VEEP, Sex and the City, Silicon Valley, Insecure, The Sopranos, Big Little Lies, True Blood and more to create officially licensed consumer products, innovative merchandise programs, retail activations and live immersive experiences.  HBO Licensing & Retail works across a broad range of product categories, including collectibles, apparel, publishing, live branded experiences, digital gaming, fashion and beauty collaborations, luxury accessories, and beyond. Officially licensed HBO merchandise can be purchased in retail stores around the world and online in the US at http://store.hbo.com.