The Xbox 20th Anniversary celebration is rapidly approaching, and a flurry of promotions and marketing will accompany it. In the most recent piece of marketing, Xbox teases a cameo from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who is pleading for help from gamers all across the world.
Some may find it difficult to believe, but the original Xbox, the bulky Duke controller, and Halo: Combat Evolved all debuted on November 15, 1998. Xbox has had its ups and downs throughout the years, but in its current incarnation, it has grown from a game system to a globally renowned brand.
The 20th Anniversary Xbox memorabilia, such as shirts, hats, and mugs, was released earlier this year, but the celebrations have grown in scope since then. It’s a festive time to be an Xbox gamer, with special edition controllers, the stunning Halo Infinite Xbox Series X system, and a reflective broadcast on the way.
According to a new tweet from Xbox UK, The Rock will appear during Xbox’s 20th Anniversary live on November 15. The Rock is seen standing in an Xbox-themed room in the tweet, asking followers to tune in to the forthcoming stream, stating, “I need your aid like never before.”
The stream has been announced for a few weeks, and it will be a celebratory and introspective broadcast based on Xbox’s history and games rather than a new game announcement or presentation. While the video concludes with a trailer for The Rock’s upcoming Netflix film Red Notice, it’s unclear what this partnership would involve.
After years in the WWE, The Rock has carved out a career in some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbuster franchises. As he says in the video, the Rock and Xbox have a long history, with the wrestler-turned-actor helping Microsoft debut the original Xbox in 2001.
The Rock announced another Xbox cooperation on Instagram earlier this year, which could have led to his inclusion in the next stream. The Rock and Xbox will distribute Xbox Series X consoles to several children’s hospitals around the country in 2020.
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Celebrities are frequently involved in the marketing of video games and consoles, especially in today’s social media and digital age. Keanu Reeves, who plays Johnny Silverhand, one of the game’s main characters, made a memorable appearance at Xbox E3 2019 for Cyberpunk 2077.
In 2011, an advertisement featuring the late Robin Williams and his daughter, Zelda, playing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D together was released. On November 15, fans will be able to witness what The Rock has planned to commemorate Xbox’s 20th anniversary.