Case Study
Setting sail with the Sea of Thieves: How Xbox gamified its Japan launch on Twitter
Key Results
37M+
Impressions
+34%
in brand mentions mOm
87%
higher engagement rate compared to benchmark
Opportunity
To celebrate the localised launch of its action-filled game Sea of Thieves in Japan, @Xbox_JP brought the adventure to Twitter -- creating a new experience for fans that aligned gaming with traditional Japanese culture. @Xbox_JP chose Twitter’s extensive and engaged gaming audience to amplify awareness and interaction with a creative campaign that put fans at the heart of the action.
Strategy
Capitalising on the popularity of fan art and the powerful potential for gamified experiences to make an impact among gaming audiences, @Xbox_JP created a sweet spot with its Sea of Thieves campaign.
Tapping into Japan’s rich art culture @Xbox_JP commissioned four prominent Japanese illustrators to reimagine creatures from the game in their own unique style. Twitter’s gaming fans were challenged to set sail and find each creature in a personalised adventure game.
Spurred on by Tweet Scenario Threads and the promise of free fan merchandise, fans were delving deeper into the realm of Sea of Thieves ahead of the launch.
01
Understanding the audience
@Xbox_JP provided the ultimate hook for its Twitter audience - with fan art being the most shared asset among the gaming community and gamification tapping into their passion points.
03
Tailoring experiences
@Xbox_JP reeled the audience in with Tweet Scenario Threads, creating unique interactive experiences to engage audiences.
The Success
The campaign launched with a captivated gaming audience. Tweets during the campaign achieved 87% higher engagement rates compared to the industry benchmark. Overall, the campaign garnered more than 37 million Twitter impressions. That’s not to mention the artwork that now keeps the adventure alive on Xbox.com.
Creating unique experiences that lean into culture in new and inventive ways has been a key driver to our growth in Japan. Partnering with Twitter Arthouse and local artists gave us an opportunity to bring Sea of Thieves to life in a whole new way for one of gaming’s most passionate audiences.
Solutions Used
Audience insights
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Creative canvas
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