The Challenge
How do we commemorate a community that has, brick by block, created a gigantic digital universe over 15 years of ingenuity and imagination?
Insight
The people who play Minecraft are not just players; they are creators of new worlds. They have assembled billions of bricks, traversed countless virtual miles, and created incredible digital landscapes from their ideas throughout the years. We came to the conclusion that a genuine celebration had to be as lively as the community and ought to represent their combined accomplishments.
Idea
At a well-known spot, construct a sizable, blank Minecraft block installation where each tile represents millions of blocks that have been placed in the game. We asked participants both live and virtually to help us fill in the block, exposing a vibrant homage to their common self-expression and inventiveness.
Execution
To celebrate our community, we created a massive cube that began as a blank canvas, with hundreds of outlined tiles waiting to be filled. As members of the community added their pieces, vibrant images gradually came to life, showcasing their incredible achievements over the years.
For fans who couldn’t join in person, we developed fun social media activities that allowed them to vote on tile designs, answer trivia, and make choices that shaped the final look of the block. This ensured that everyone had a hand in the creative process, no matter where they were.
Popular UK Minecraft creators also joined in, adding to the excitement as they collaborated with fans to complete the cube. Their participation brought an extra layer of energy, creating live content and sharing the experience online, making the event even more engaging and memorable.
Outcomes
The “Birthday Block” brought the online and offline Minecraft communities together in a unique celebration, turning virtual achievements into a real-world experience. It became a heartfelt tribute to the players who helped shape Minecraft, allowing them to see the incredible results of their collective creativity come to life in a one-of-a-kind exhibit.
Jump In
The Challenge
As the excitement built around the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, we saw a unique opportunity to create a campaign that would bring together the passion of football fans and the immersive appeal of gaming. Our aim was to blend the energy of international football with the imaginative worlds of video games, capturing the attention of two distinct communities football lovers and gamers.
Insight
Football and video games share a common magic: both can transport people into a world of passion, competition, and endless possibilities. By bringing these two worlds together, we wanted to spark the imagination of fans, making them feel like the excitement of the game didn’t stop at the pitch but flowed seamlessly into the digital realms they love.
Idea
That’s how “Jump In” a campaign that combined gaming and football with a twist on storytelling came to be. We showcased the national teams of France and England, including top players like Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, Lindsay Horan, Sakina Karchaoui, Ellie Carpenter, Hugo Lloris, Olivier Giroud, Thierry Henry, Bukayo Saka, Harry Maguire along with breathtaking game footage. Fans were able to view their favourite players in a whole new light thanks to the crossover, feeling completely at home in both universes.
Execution
Multi-Platform Experience: We produced a number of striking images with football players entering well-known video game environments, such as Minecraft, The Elder Scrolls, Forza, Halo Infinite, Sea of thieves and Starfield. The visual storytelling created scenarios with the bright style of each game and the excitement of football, using advanced design to give the participants a sense of belonging in both environments.
Results
Since then, what began during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 has developed into a continuous celebration of gaming and football that extends to the Euros and other important competitions. “Jump In” evolved into a platform for fans to pursue their passions, whether it be playing their preferred virtual games or supporting their favourite teams.
Power Your Dreams – Experience
Challenge
Our job at Outernet London was to create an immersive audio-visual experience that would embody the “Power Your Dreams” theme. By exhibiting the Xbox Series X in a way that appealed to their imagination and spirit of adventure, we hoped to captivate both gamers and non-gamers.
Insight
Transcending reality and taking gamers to amazing worlds is the core of “Power Your Dreams.” We believed that a surreal setting would draw viewers in and make their interactions with the Xbox Series X unforgettable.
Idea
Our idea was to create a multi-part experience where participants could use Xbox games to explore their dreams. This includes hands-on gameplay trials, immersive AV presentations, and a sensory deprivation tank experience, all aimed at creating a dreamy atmosphere.
Execution
To unlock their mind and senses to be filled with imagination, we have created a 15-minute immersive experience, attendees floated in dry sensory deprivation chambers while being led on an audio-visual tour by a “dream scientist.” Custom visuals were shown on surrounding displays, encouraging individuals to use their imagination. A 30-minute gameplay demo with specially designed gaming pods for games like Cyberpunk 2077, Halo Infinite, Forza Motorsport, and others was also accessible.
We made the entire place feel pleasant and inviting, complete with Xbox consoles on display and helpful hostesses to help guests. Dr. Ian Wallace, a well-known dream psychologist, organised the event, and Outernet’s huge displays were used to optimise impact and engagement.
Results
The “Power Your Dreams” experience was one of the most talked-about events in London, drawing in both gamers and non-gamers. The ad effectively positioned Xbox as a brand that encourages creativity and exploration, underlining the concept that Xbox Series X actually has the capacity to turn dreams into reality. Free tickets were promptly picked up.
Unessassesories – GamePass
The Challenge
PC players are constantly searching for the next amazing device to add to their collection. However, how can you persuade them that PC Game Pass itself is the greatest upgrade rather than a brand-new keyboard or mouse? We wanted them to realise that the ultimate addition to their battle station isn’t simply new gear—it’s a library of amazing games.
Insight
Gamers adore designing their ideal setups and stocking their desktops with accessories that enhance the gaming experience. But occasionally, the games are more important than the equipment. We could demonstrate how ridiculous some accessories could be while still emphasising that having PC Game Pass and the greatest titles at your disposal completely changes the gaming experience.
Idea
Together, Colin Furze and I have designed a line of outrageous PC accessories, each one taking inspiration from a popular PC Game Pass title. These devices were visually striking and stylish, but they were completely unusable for gaming, making even a basic controller seem like an extravagant endeavour. What’s the point? to remind players that nothing compares to the value of PC Game Pass, regardless of how ostentatious the item.
Execution
We collaborated with YouTuber Colin Furze, who is well-known for his ridiculous creations, to produce an array of wacky accessories with a gaming theme, ranging from enormous controllers to absurdly intricate setups. These devices, which were meant to be enjoyable, brought smiles to people’s faces while highlighting our message.
We asked well-known inventors to try these devices and recorded their real emotions as they giggled and found it difficult to play with them. Their enthusiasm turned into the campaign’s central theme.
Colin’s channel featured a main video that showed off the construction process and pointed viewers to Xbox Game Pass UK’s social media accounts for additional footage. Enthusiasts adored it, dispersing the information and enjoyment throughout various media.
Results
The ad resonated well with the gaming community and generated a lot of discussion on social media and YouTube. We demonstrated to players that, occasionally, less really is more—especially when you have access to an infinite library of games—by employing comedy and surprising turns. The conclusion was straightforward but concise: PC Game Pass is without a doubt the greatest addition for any player.