To celebrate the launch of FIFA 18, GAME is hosting a series of midnight launch events at 250 stores this week.
The first kicked off yesterday evening, Monday 25th September, but this will be just the first half wherein fans can get their hands on FIFA 18 three days early with the Ronaldo Edition. The second half will kick-off on Thursday 28th September, where the standard edition will be on sale.
ICYMI: We are going #FIFA18 crazy this week!
? Kick-Off Mode
? Skills Challenges
? 32 Player TournamentsWe kick off tonight at 9pm! pic.twitter.com/G9wfKyefsN
— Belong London Lionhearts (@BelongLDN) September 25, 2017
Those in attendance will also be treated to a 50% off voucher for Papa John’s pizza. At GAME’s 18 BELONG gaming arenas, fans will be able to play FIFA 18 kick-off mode free of charge from 8pm – midnight and enter a Challenge Mode competition for a chance to win a FIFA 18 Ultimate Team jersey.
FIFA 18 promises a far stronger esports element than any prior edition, with three esports team jerseys (in the form of Fnatic, Vitality and Liquid) confirmed to be in-game options. We can also a greater commitment to growing FIFA as an esports title, as EA looks to push on from its $200,000 (£148,000) FIWC tournament this year.
We can expect that the GAME Belong stores will be a part of this with grassroots tournaments across the country. London currently boasts two Belong arenas of a total of 18 nationwide. There are more planned as the company looks to branch out with its already successful new project over the next year, and the aim is to have 30 by the end of 2017.
As for the FIFA 18 launch, there will be daily 32 player tournaments from 29th September – 1st October, at all GAME Belong arenas to give it a big kick off. You can find out more about these and the launch events here.
Esports Insider says: The GAME Belong stores are proving something of a lifesaver for the company and it’s no surprise that they’re looking to continue to implement more as part of a well-delivered and thought out nationwide project. Midnight launch events and subsequent tournaments at stores are an excellent idea to boot, and with FIFA 18 in particular, should go down a storm.