Why Microsoft Entertainment Pack had a sticker announcing that it had Tetris?
This article explores the historical marketing strategy behind the first Microsoft Entertainment Pack, which used stickers to include Tetris due to pending licensing deals. It highlights how the company managed production risks by avoiding permanent box art until the agreement was finalized.
Why it matters
It provides a fascinating look at early software distribution logistics and the evolution of product packaging in the tech industry.
The first Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows didn’t have a number after its name because it was the first one, and nobody knew that there were going to be any sequels.¹
It may not have had a big number 1 on the box, but initial runs did have a bright red sticker that said, “Now includes TETRIS for Windows!” There was no mention of Tetris anywhere else on the box. Why did it announce the inclusion of Tetris only with a sticker?
Because at the time the first run of boxes were being printed, the negotiations to license Tetris hadn’t yet concluded. There was a chance that the negotiations would fall through, and the Entertainment Pack would have to be released without Tetris.
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