Competitive Big Buck Hunter players will meet in Chicago for the 15th annual Big Buck World Championship on October 14 and 15, 2022. The tournament will be hosted at Joe’s Live, with a substantial prize pool and plenty of arcade entertainment planned.
Players hoping to reach the championship ladder must qualify on a live-connected Big Buck Hunter Reloaded machine. The qualification period was due to finish in the next couple of weeks when the event was announced.
Although Play Mechanix’s hunting game is the centrepiece, the venue will feature additional arcade entertainment. The event trailer provides an early look at what is planned.
The official Big Buck Hunter account also shared a livestream on Facebook with further event information.
A new junior tournament
This year’s event is also intended to be more welcoming for families. Previous championships were commonly held in bars, reflecting Big Buck Hunter’s long-standing role as a bar arcade game.
For the first time, organisers announced a Young Buck Hunters competition for players aged 13 to 17.
The event plan appears to separate the family arcade area from the alcohol service, with alcohol restricted to the VIP Lounges. Organisers had not yet confirmed which games would be installed in the family area.
The new Fast & Furious arcade game was expected to be a likely inclusion, although its presence was not confirmed in the announcement.
Arcade competition and home setups
Big Buck Hunter’s format highlights how connected arcade machines can support qualification campaigns beyond a single venue. For readers exploring the broader arcade scene, the RETROCADE Arcade Blog covers new releases, tournaments and industry news.
Those considering an arcade setup at home can compare arcade machines, browse upright arcades or use the Arcade Machine Buying Guide before choosing a cabinet.
Players who qualified for the Chicago event would be heading to Joe’s Live for the October 14–15 championship weekend.
Leave a Reply