Red Bull x Cloud9
We turned a Kroger Red Bull purchase into a live League of Legends showdown—bridging store aisles and esports arenas so shoppers could beat Cloud9 pros for a shot at an elite gaming experience.
About
In partnership with beverage icon Red Bull and championship esports team Cloud9, we embedded an interactive League of Legends challenge inside Kroger’s nationwide retail footprint. Shoppers who scanned their Red Bull receipt linked their Riot account in seconds, saw their next ranked matches scored against Cloud9 benchmarks, and entered to win VIP esports prizes—proving how friction‑free tech can turn everyday shopping into an unforgettable digital adventure.
Red Bull, the energy‑drink powerhouse, and Cloud9, one of North America’s most decorated esports organisations, teamed up on a first‑of‑its‑kind retail‑gaming activation that plugs Cloud9’s competitive buzz straight into Kroger store aisles.
Red Bull x Cloud9
Our partnership with Red Bull and Cloud9 allowed us to demonstrate our proficiency in developing cutting-edge software solutions that seamlessly blend the physical and digital realms. This project highlights our ability to tackle complex challenges and deliver impactful results, further solidifying our position as a leading software development company in creating memorable digital experiences.
Challenge
Red Bull wanted shoppers at Kroger to do more than grab a four‑pack—they wanted them to play. The brief: turn every qualifying Red Bull purchase into a chance to out‑score Cloud9 pros in League of Legends, with a trip to the 2022 LCS Spring Finals on the line. The activation had to knit together in‑store POS, receipt validation, and real‑time game stats without adding friction for players or Kroger staff.
Solution
Frame Sixty built Can You Beat Cloud9, a mobile‑first microsite where customers upload their Kroger receipt, link their Red Bull and Riot accounts, pick the Cloud9 role they want to challenge, and have their next four ranked matches automatically scored against the pro’s benchmark. The backend pulls performance data through Riot’s official API and returns results in seconds, while email prompts and Snipp receipt tech keep the flow secure and seamless.
Key Features
- Monthly leaderboards & prizes: three separate leaderboards (June, July, August) reset each month to encourage repeat purchases and multiple attempts.
- Real‑time tracking: API calls populate a live scoreboard so players instantly see where they stand against Cloud9’s scores.
- Automatic qualification: the system flags anyone who beats a pro’s stat line and enters them in the grand‑prize draw for coaching at the LCS finals and exclusive merch.
Outcomes
The program blended retail and esports into a single journey that only Red Bull could offer—giving competitive gamers the promise of playing with (and against) Cloud9’s elite roster while driving incremental sales for Kroger and deeper brand loyalty for Red Bull.
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