Xbox launches game trailer through the medium of Christmas lights

Dec. 06, 2016

Xbox and McCann London have installed a series of Christmas lights that form the first-ever game trailer you can walk through. The lights - hanging above the shopping plaza in London’s Brunswick Centre - don’t feature traditional festive imagery. Instead they tell a story about hordes of flesh-eating zombies to promote the new Christmas-themed zombie game Dead Rising 4 - developed by Capcom and published in partnership with Microsoft which launches today on Xbox One and Windows 10 PC.

Last night, the online fan-base worked together to switch on the lights. By interacting with a cryptic Facebook Live stream of a zombie hand suspended above a button, Xbox followers moved the hand downward to press the switch and turn on the display, revealing the trailer to the world.

The Dead Rising Lights consist of nine panels of lights, suspended consecutively above a busy shopping plaza. The lights switch on and off in sequence to reveal a brand new narrative to gamers. As with all Xbox game trailers, it begins with the PEGI age rating logo and concludes with the iconic green Xbox end-frame.

The direct-response switch-on mechanism was part of a fully-integrated campaign revolving around the light installation, comprising:

• Live streaming on Facebook Live, Twitch and Periscope
• A festive event to mark the turning-on of the trailer
• Geo-fenced Snapchat filters
• An immersive, interactive 360° video so that those unable to visit the London installation can remotely experience it

Adrian Simons, Director of Global Windows and Devices at Microsoft, says: “Most Christmas lights are switched on by celebrities, but in this case the honour went to Xbox’s global fan-base. And they are not just any lights, they bring to life a new form of game trailer which we believe is a world first. This is a fun, bold and innovative undertaking in keeping with our commitment to our fans – and it’s all done in the true spirit of the game.”

Laurence Thomson, Chief Creative Officer at McCann London, says: “We wanted to reinvent the game trailer to connect with today’s gamers. What better way to celebrate the festive season and the launch of Dead Rising 4 than a gory Zombie apocalypse lit up in glorious technicolor? By subverting the traditional Christmas light display we’re kicking the schmaltzy Christmas advert out of the window and instead appealing to gamers’ tongue-in-cheek attitude.”

David Plumb, Centre Manager at The Brunswick Shopping Centre, added: “We were honoured when Xbox approached us to hold the launch of their newest game, Dead Rising 4, at the centre. The Brunswick is a very special location – the open space and central location made it the ideal place to hold an event of this magnitude. The event was streamed live across the world, putting us on the world stage, which is pretty special too.”

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About Dead Rising 4

Dead Rising 4 marks the return of photojournalist Frank West in an all-new chapter of one of the most popular zombie game franchises of all time. All of the classic hallmarks of the ground-breaking series return, including a huge array of weapons and vehicles players can combine to combat the horde ranging from the practical – to the practically insane. Players will also enjoy ambitious new features including new zombie classes, EXO Suits, and 4-player co-op multiplayer. With intense action and an unmatched level of weapon and character customization, Dead Rising 4 delivers a heart-pounding experience as players explore, scavenge and fight to survive in an epic open world sandbox. Available on Xbox One and Windows 10.