Microsoft's XBox Comic-Con Plans
Microsoft has a full plate of events ready for San Diego Comic-Con this weekend, both in and around the convention area.
Outside the convention at the Manchester Hyatt hotel in downtown San Diego, the XBox Lounge will feature a staggering 90 gaming stations featuring unreleased titles like Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, Forza Motorsport 6, The Division, and Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2. Anyone will be allowed to walk in and play these games, there will be various tournaments held throughout SDCC’s duration, and Microsoft is promising “some celebrities will stop by,” though they didn’t admit who we’d be getting.
If that’s not wild enough, how about this: the Lounge will play host to a “real Halo 5 Tournament” promoting the upcoming sequel, and they aren’t kidding: players will physically divide into teams, spread out in a special room modeled after the game’s Breakout arena, and start shooting at one another with Halo-inspired blaster toys by BOOMco. The Xbox Lounge will be open Thursday through Saturday from 11 AM – 8 PM, and Sunday, July 12, from 10 AM – 5 PM.
Inside the convention halls, XBox will have its own booth demoing Halo 5’s Warzone mode. Microsoft will also be holding several panels throughout the con: “A Rare Chit Chat: Past and Future” will feature Rare developers and take place Thursday, July 9 at 10:30 AM, The Coalition will speak during “Gears of War: Ultimate Edition: The Art of Improving on an Xbox Classic” on July 9 at 4:15 PM, and a special Halo 5 panel will take place July 10 at 10:15 AM. Also expect other panels regarding Rise of the Tomb Raider and the next Fable game.
Microsoft did not make it clear if any of the panels would have a live video feed, but even if they don’t, it won’t take long for us to get the news to you. A very merry comic-con for all!