Xbox One Launch Events Detailed: Macklemore And deadmau5 Join In

The Xbox One launch this Friday, Nov. 22 is slated to be a worldwide blowout party. Cities around the world will play host to the next-gen console's 12:01 AM release, starting in Auckland, New Zealand and working its way west to North America. Concerts, giveaways, gaming contests, costumes, and more will accompany the launch on a rolling basis. As of this posting, the crazy is scheduled to begin in just over three days.

Many stores on the 21st will stay open past midnight for Xbox One fans who don't want to wait until the sun comes up on the 22nd to get their consoles. Select locations of Best Buy, EB Games, FNAC, Gameans, GameStop, Media Mrkt, Sam's Club, Saturn, GAME, Tesco, Best Buy, GameStop, Walmart and of course the Microsoft retail store will keep their doors open. In all, 10,000 retail locations will be participating in 13 countries. In the US, the console will retail for $499.99, which comes bundled with a Kinect 2.

Some of the launch parties will be appropriately lavish. In New York City's Times Square, the Best Buy Theater will play host to 1,000 early-bird Xbox One purchasers, who will be able to see Macklemore and Ryan Lewis perform in person. In Los Angeles, deadmau5 will headline Milk Studios for the first 500 purchasers to line up. Pre-purchases will be available on the 21st so visitors can prove they're eligible to get in.

All this "Midnight Madness" in celebration of the Xbox One launch will be broadcast live on Spike TV starting at 11 PM ET and 8PM PT, as well as on Xbox.com and Xbox Live. Full details at the link below, as well as on the official launch site. Anybody here planning on pulling an all-night Thursday night?

SOURCE: Xbox