As the clock hit midnight last night in New Zealand, Aussies and Kiwis were some of the first in the world to usher in the next generation of gaming with the launch of the Xbox Series X|S.
In celebration of the eagerly anticipated release, Xbox ANZ transformed tourist hotspot, Queenstown, into ‘Greenstown’. This included the construction of a giant Xbox Series X on Lake Wakitipu, matched with a light show that was projected onto the giant console and green lights that lit up the surrounding Remarkables
It was a sight to behold, whether in person or virtually. To see a city in my home country be fully kitted out in green was an incredible feeling. Not only was the light show impressive, but Xbox ANZ did a fantastic job to ensure inclusivity and respect was given to the First Owners of the Lands of Aotearoa (New Zealand) and Australia. The introduction to the live-stream was such a touching and authentic Indigenous introduction for both nations. It really set the standard for representation.
The First Owners of the Lands were not the only aspect of inclusivity on the stream. Xbox ANZ featured a segment from the community that included a gamer with a disability, a South Asian gamer, as well as a gamer from the LGBTQ+ community. The fact that there was representation of all cultures was a great feature and for me, personally, it’s always amazing to see the focus put onto the people who game, as much as the games themselves.
Of course, the light show wasn’t all that Xbox ANZ had prepared for us fans. The livestream covered gameplay videos of three popular new releases titles available on November 10, including:
- Watch Dogs: Legion;
- Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla; and
- Destiny 2: Beyond Light
The fun didn’t end there!
In partnership with Xbox ANZ, Fergburger, a local Queenstown burger joint, created three limited edition signature Fergburger products for New Zealand fans to enjoy; including an Xbox Series X Fergburger, Fergbakers
All in all, it was a spectacular night. Hats off to the Xbox ANZ team for putting together a marvelous event in the heart of Queenstown despite the pandemic and other challenges, such as not being able to be there at the event to oversea it all, in person.
Happy Launch Day!
And with that, I bid you a very happy next-gen launch day as the Xbox Series X ($749 AUD / $799 NZT RRP) and Xbox Series S ($499 AUD / $549 NZT RRP) have both launched across Australia and New Zealand!
Merry gaming everyone!