Building on the overwhelming success of the 2021 Xbox Game Studios Derby, which saw Rare take on Playground Games, 2023 is taking football-based shenanigans to supersize in the name of SpecialEffect! This year, 24 teams from UK game development studios will come to St George’s Park in the heart of England on Wednesday 26th April and play football 24/7 to raise money for charity.
This ambitious event has grown significantly in size since the turbulent days of 2020 when the first football clash took place FIFA Match between Rare and Playground. That culminated in an actual football match in 2021 and has now evolved into a multi-hour, multi-studio effort with all proceeds going to gaming charity SpecialEffect.
We know what you’re thinking: how does it work? How tired will your legs get? Who will score at the Worldies this year? Will it be available for your TV entertainment? Don’t worry: we have all the important information for you here.
Starting at 18:00 UTC on Wednesday April 26, two of the 24 teams will kick off the game. All 24 participating teams – including rosters from Rare, Playground, EA, and Sumo to name a few – will be assigned a team color: red or blue. Each team’s stint on the pitch lasts the full 90 minutes, with all teams representing either the red or blue side. Every goal scored by each team contributes to an epic battle between Red and Blue, with the final whistle – and the score – set at 18:00 UTC on Thursday 27 April.
You don’t have to take our word for it though – you can watch the game live in all its glory Xbox Twitch Channel. It’s going to be a well-rounded, high-scoring, football-focused event with lots of special guests – and no doubt a few surprises as well. Gav Murphy will fill his role as lead commentator and will be joined by a few other familiar faces for commentary duties. So keep an eye on this area for more information on the pitchside lineup.
We’re really thrilled to have such incredible support from a variety of studios across the UK and can’t wait for the teams on and off the pitch to come together to raise money for such a brilliant cause.
Harriet Manson, Rare’s Chief of Staff, said of the plans: “We are delighted to bring together avid footballers from the gaming industry for an unforgettable 24 hours. Being able to bring teams together at St George’s Park, the home of English football, will be a special moment for the industry to help such a brilliant charity called SpecialEffect that does such important work to spread the joy of gaming to people living with physical disabilities. We’re particularly excited to host the first-ever Women’s Match under the One Big Game umbrella this year, and to welcome players from our Women of Xbox community and across the gaming industry to the pitch.
“An event of this magnitude would not have been possible without the dedication and enthusiasm of players, teams, commentators and studios – we are truly grateful to all those who have helped make our 24-hour, industry-wide One Big Game a reality.”
SpecialEffect is a charity focused on helping people with physical disabilities play video games. For many people, games are an important form of recreation and games likeSea of ThievesAndForzaHorizon 5play a special role in connecting players with additional needs. SpecialEffect uses innovative technology to make gaming accessible to everyone. The solutions are tailored to each individual, taking into account their physical limitations and creating custom input devices, from modified controllers to eye control devices, so they can play with their friends and family.
As Team Xbox, we couldn’t be prouder to support SpecialEffect’s mission to create a level playing field for all gamers with disabilities. Be sure to tune in on Wednesday April 26th for fun, fundraising and a healthy dose of competition between the 24 participating studios. Rivalries are born, heroes are created and friendships are forged on the pristine plastic turf of Sir Alf Ramsey’s pitch at St George’s Park. We can hardly wait!
For more information about One Big Game, or if you are a studio that would like to participate, please contact the crew at [email protected]. And of course, if you’d like to donate to the cause, head over to the official JustGiving site to show your support and cheer on your chosen team!
