German toyco Tonies has just revealed that it’s launching the next generation of its interactive audio system for preschoolers next month.

Toniebox 2 builds on the original’s feature set with enhanced sounds, smart timers for establishing routines, and gameplay mechanics for both preschoolers and older kids up to age nine. At the heart of the upgrade is the Tonieplay controller. When placed on top of the box, it unlocks a wide range of interactive games and quizzes in addition to the system’s traditional story-based adventures—all designed to help kids develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills. 

Priced at US$150, Toniebox 2 will initially stage a small-scale September 15 rollout in Canada with Indigo as the exclusive retail partner. Additional retailers and countries will widen the product’s reach later this fall. 

Tonies CEO Tobias Wann says the new system’s core focus is promoting independence and self-confidence by providing kids with more active play options throughout the day. It also represents an important shift in corporate strategy to branch out beyond linear listening experiences. 

Tonies has leaned on many of its licensing partners to support the launch of its next-gen system, developing 12 new branded Tonieplay experiences including Disney: Quiz Kingdom, PAW Patrol: Adventure Bay Rescue Heroes, Gabby’s Dollhouse: Gabby’s Cat-tastic Scavenger Hunt and Winnie the Pooh: Tigger’s Mix-Up Fix-Up. Toniebox 2 is also compatible with all Tonies figures so families should be able to easily migrate their existing collections without any issues. 

The toyco plans to continue offering and supporting its original Toniebox model with additional figure and content releases in the foreseeable future. Since launching in 2016, more than 9.3 million of these players and upwards of 100 million collectible figures have been sold worldwide.