Football shenanigans return to St George’s Park as the UK games industry comes together once again to raise vital funds for charity! 25 and 26 September 2024 – in just two weeks – 24 hours of high-quality game dev football will be streamed live on Twitching for everyone’s viewing pleasure, all in the name of raising funds for Special effect.
One Big Game has come a long way since its launch in 2020: What started as FIFAThe rivalry, based on Xbox Game Studios Rare and Playground Games, evolved into a real-life football clash between the teams in 2021 and has now morphed into a 24-hour, multi-studio event hosted and broadcast live from the English Football Association’s national football centre. This is the second time the One Big Game squad have attempted to put on an event of this scale, with the 2023 event producing an astonishing number of viewers. £30,596 in total.
Building on the brilliant performances of last year’s One Big Game, teams from gaming companies like Activision, Jagex, Ninja Theory, Ubisoft and more will come together to decide once and for all (or at least for a year) who is better: Team Red or Team Blue. All participating teams will be assigned one of these colors and play a full 90-minute game, with the final score contributing towards the overall standings of Team Red and Team Blue.
The sporting showdown begins on 25 September at 19:00 (BST), with coverage starting on Xbox On Twitch Channel from 6:30pm BST – and then on September 26th at approximately 7:15pm BST the final score will be decided at the final whistle as a brave group of players emerge victorious. You can also expect to see some familiar faces on the broadcast and commentary team, with the Xbox On crew (and some special guests!) taking charge of the event.
We are once again delighted to have the support of so many studios across the UK, all of whom are so enthusiastically donating their legs, lactic acid and in some cases their dignity to raise money for SpecialEffect. We are so proud to bring so many people together on and off the pitch and this event promises to be a very special showcase of skill, spirit and generosity in the games industry community.
As Xbox Game Studios, we couldn’t be prouder to support SpecialEffect’s mission to provide equal opportunities for all gamers with disabilities. For many people, gaming is an important form of leisure, and games like Sea of Thieves And ForzaHorizon5 play a special role in connecting gamers with special needs. SpecialEffect uses innovative technology to make gaming accessible to all, and your donations will enable this charity to continue supporting disabled gamers well into the future.
So if you can, please tune in from Wednesday 25th September to witness competition, camaraderie and absolutely amazing goals from the players taking part. On the immaculate Astroturf of the Sir Alf Ramsey Pitch at St George’s Park, rivalries will be born, heroes created and friendships made. And, most importantly, vital funds will be raised for charity. If you would like to get the ball rolling with donations, please head to One Big Game ’24 Tiltify fundraising page to assure your support.
See you on the 25th – and don’t forget the stretches!
