What to Expect from Halo at gamescom 2014

Next week, the focus of the gaming world shifts to Cologne, Germany for gamescom, the largest consumer gaming show in the world. There will be tons of great Xbox games at the show, but none of them are bigger than Halo: The Master Chief Collection. The game has been shown a handful of times at events ranging from E3 to the Rooster Teeth Expo, with developer 343 Industries gradually revealing more info on the game, more multiplayer maps, and closer looks at the jaw-droppingly beautiful new cut-scenes.

While all of those events were great showcases for Halo: The Master Chief Collection, none of them can compare to the veritable smorgasbord of Halo-related events at gamescom next week. From giving gamers on-site the chance to play some sweet Halo 2: Anniversary multiplayer for themselves, to offering Halo fans around the world to check out the game via live stream, the team at 343 has worked hard to ensure there’s something for everyone.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what to look out for at this year’s show:  

Gamescom 2014 Xbox Press Briefing
Tuesday, August 12
2:00 PM CEST (8:00AM EDT), Twitch.tv/Xbox

Next Tuesday, Halo: The Master Chief Collection will appear in the annual press briefing, where 343 will share some new announcements with you. The show will be streamed at Twitch.tv/Xbox so you’ve got no excuses. We’ll see you there.

Halo 2: Anniversary Multiplayer Hands-On

Halo 2: Anniversary will be playable for the first time on the gamescom show floor. There will be 4v4 multiplayer games on Ascension and a yet-to-be-announced map, with multiple game types available for your enjoyment. Swing by the Xbox booth in Hall 6, where we’ll have a bunch on consoles and controllers waiting for you. Walk-up gameplay will run from Wednesday through Sunday.

Halo Stream From the Xbox Booth 
Wednesday, Aug 13
11:00 AM CEST (5:00 AM EDT), Twitch.tv/Xbox

Live from gamescom Xbox booth, 343 Industries’ Bonnie Ross, Dan Ayoub, and Kiki Wolfkill will livestream the content that’s only being shown behind-closed-doors via twitch.tv/Xbox. Be sure to tune in for insider access and sneak peeks at what’s to come.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection – gamescom Showdown

Not only will gamescom be the first opportunity gets hands-on with Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Halo 2: Anniversary multiplayer, but the team is also working with ESL and Twitch to bring you a legendary 4v4 tournament. Open to all gamescom attendees, the tournament will feature $10,000 USD in prizing, four days of qualification on the gamescom show floor, and culminate with the grand finals on Sunday, August 17. Our friends at Twitch will be broadcasting the finals for all the world to see at Twitch.tv/Halo.

To qualify for the finals, swing by the ESL Arena in Hall 9, where ESL will have a dedicated area for Halo: The Master Chief Collection competition. On these stations, we’ll be featuring “winner stays” 4v4 gameplay, so grab three teammates (or form a team on the spot) and come compete on Ascension and one other unannounced map. The rules are simple: If your team wins 10 matches in a row, you’ll take the top spot on the daily leaderboard, and if another team tops your score (and wins 11 in a row), you’ll need to swing back and reclaim your spot. At the end of each day, the top teams will advance to the Sunday finals, where they’ll compete for a prize pool of $10,000 USD on the eSports main stage if you qualify, but don’t have Sunday passes to gamescom, we’ve got you covered – all qualified teams will receive complimentary Sunday access courtesy of ESL.

The Sunday finals will kick off with a Free-For-All exhibition at 10:30 CEST, and conclude with the 4v4 finals, where the bracket will be whittled down until only one team remains. The broadcast will feature commentary from Andy “Bravo” Dudynsky and Alex “Goldenboy” Mendez, and run from 10:30 to 17:00 CEST (1:30AM EDT) at Twitch.tv/Halo. We hope you’ll join us.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection – Gamescom Showdown Schedule