Game with England footballer Raheem Sterling and Star Wars’ John Boyega at the opening of the flagship Microsoft Store in London

Two people will get the chance to play some of the latest Xbox games with England footballer Raheem Sterling and Star Wars’ John Boyega in the flagship Microsoft Store in London as part of a new interactive experience launching today.

A billboard, entitled What’s in Store?, featuring thousands of coloured boxes – red, green, yellow and blue to match the company’s logo – has been set up outside King’s Cross Station, in London.

Every box contains a gift, including the chance to own a Microsoft Surface Go, Surface accessories, Xbox One S consoles, special edition Xbox controllers, gift cards to be used in-store and online, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate codes and more.

The biggest experience in the What’s in Store? billboard is the chance to game with Sterling and Boyega inside the new flagship Microsoft Store on Oxford Circus on July 11, the day it opens to the public. The two lucky fans will be able to chat and take selfies with the stars after the store opens at 11am.

John Carter, Senior Store Manager at the flagship Microsoft Store in London, said: “We’re excited to open our doors to the community on July 11. Our customers are at the forefront of everything we do, and the flagship Microsoft Store will be a community hub where anyone can come to learn new skills, meet like-minded people and experience the best of Microsoft. From a gamer wanting to improve their skills and meet interesting people, a small business looking to get off the ground, through to a student wanting to learn more about digital skills, the flagship Microsoft Store on Oxford Circus is a place for everyone.”

Other experiences as part of What’s in Store? include:

• A chance to meet BAFTA Award winning Xbox Game Studio, Playground Games, the creators of Forza Horizon 4. This world-renowned video game studio will offer an insight into the Forza games series with behind the scenes details and host a live Q&A where fans have the chance to ask their burning questions.
• Workshop sessions with Sharmadean Reid MBE, founder of WAH Nails and Beautystack. Entrepreneurs and creative thinkers can secure one of two exclusive sessions in store with the British Jamaican entrepreneur. Reid will offer advice on how to grow a company and transform your business proposal into a game-changing presentation using Microsoft technology.
• An editing and creative workshop hosted by Instagram star and author Rich McCor, also known as Paperboyo. The artist uses a Surface device to create unique photos by placing paper cut-outs next to famous buildings, including turning the London Eye into a bicycle and the Arc De Triomphe into a Lego figure.
• Access to an exclusive four-day Xbox Showcase event at the flagship Microsoft Store in London, giving fans the opportunity to play some of the biggest Xbox titles from this year’s E3 event in Los Angeles. It will be the first time that people in the UK will be able to get their hands on Project xCloud, Microsoft’s new game-streaming technology, and Gears 5.

Visitors to the What’s in Store? experience will need to interact with the billboard to redeem a box. To register for the in-store experience, visitors should scan the QR code on the card inside using their phone and enter the unique number.

The first physical retail store for Microsoft in the UK will be located on Oxford Circus and covers 21,932 square feet over three floors. Those who work, live, shop in or visit the UK will be able to test and experience the latest technology, products and services from Microsoft and its partners. Interactive zones, surrounded by immersive video walls running throughout the store, will make this the best place to get hands-on with Surface, Windows, Office, Xbox and PC gaming, HoloLens mixed-reality and more.

The Microsoft Store Answer Desk offers a dedicated area for customers to get tech support, trainings, repairs and advice from trusted advisors on Microsoft products and services, while a Community Theatre – a space for technology, coding and STEM learning – will run free, year-round workshops and programmes for customers.