In a move that surprises absolutely no one paying attention to the current state of internet culture, Topps has jumped headfirst into influencer mania with its latest Topps NOW® drop—this time hitching its collectible wagon to the Sidemen Charity Match 2025. It's all for a good cause, of course. A portion of proceeds will be heading to Brightside and M7 Education, so you can sleep soundly knowing your compulsive cardboard purchasing is technically philanthropy.
At the center of this spectacle? MrBeast. Yes, that MrBeast—the benevolent overlord of YouTube giveaways and candy bars. This marks the debut of his official trading card, because apparently his name wasn’t already on enough things. It’s surrounded by a gaggle of fellow digital celebrities like KSI, Kai Cenat, Sketch, and the rest of the Sidemen, who, collectively, have the social media reach of a small country.
So what are you actually buying? A guaranteed base card, which you’ll probably forget about unless it comes with a glittery friend. But here’s where Topps works its magic: the real draw is the “chase.” Collectors get randomly inserted chances at ultra-rare cards, a concept designed to turn rational adults into breathless treasure hunters.
Here’s the glittery bait list:
- On-card autograph redemptions (yes, actual autographs… maybe)
- Gold Foil /50
- Orange Foil /25
- Black Foil /10
- Red Foil /5
- FoilFractor /1, which is Topps-speak for “shiny unicorn”
But wait—there’s more! As if the color-coded hierarchy of scarcity wasn’t convoluted enough, there’s a Chrome and Opal Chrome tier that unlocks only if enough people join in the stampede:
- 50,000+ cards sold: Chrome cards start showing up
- 100,000+: Now we’re talking SuperFractors
- 250,000+: Enter the realm of Opal Chrome
- 500,000+: White OpalFractor 1/1, which sounds like something a wizard would forge in a volcano
In an inspired touch of cringe, the press release encourages buyers to “get that drip” if they manage to snag a 1/1 of their favorite streamer. Nothing says “cool” quite like a middle-aged marketing exec using Gen Z slang they heard on TikTok three months ago.
Naturally, this whole operation is a limited-time affair, available until April 4th on Topps.com. After that, the cards vanish into the digital void and print numbers get locked, determining whether you’ve bought a future grail or just added another base card to your ever-growing pile of regret.
Meanwhile, the Sidemen will be busy kicking soccer balls and raising money during their annual Charity Match, which, to be fair, has raised millions for UK charities since 2016. So yes, some good will come of all this chaos.
Whether you're a genuine fan of internet celebrities, a cardboard addict, or just someone hoping to flip a shiny MrBeast card for rent money—go ahead. Join the frenzy.