One of the biggest names in location-based entertainment makes plans for global expansion.
The VOID will soon become one of the largest location-based VR providers in the world thanks to a new partnership with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield that will introduce 25 new entertainment centers across the United States and Europe beginning this summer.
In an official announcement made earlier today, the Utah-based LBE provider confirmed that VR pop-up stations would begin appearing in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego Westfield locations; these temporary installations will serve as placeholders for what will eventually become permanent location-based entertainment facilities. Meanwhile, other permanent locations will be established throughout the rest of the United States, as well as various major European cities, such as Paris, London, and Stockholm. The VOID and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield hope to complete the 25-location roll-out by 2022.
“Over the past years, our industry has evolved dramatically,” said Christophe Cuvillier, Group CEO at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, in an official release. “In a connected world, shopping is not enough anymore. Today, our customers expect to be entertained and brought together to share memorable, engaging sensory experiences. We are very happy to partner with The VOID in an industry-first, to bring cutting edge immersive experiences like these to our visitors.”
“This perfectly illustrates our strategy of differentiation, sourcing the number one concepts in retail and entertainment. It also shows how our new transatlantic platform allows us to implement great concepts across our portfolio worldwide and how we can leverage our scale to create value. In return, we are helping The VOID to scale its truly revolutionary experiences for consumers in the US and Europe and to pursue its path of growth.”
The VOID and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield will launch their first four temporary pop-up locations sometime between August and September at the Westfield World Trade Center in New York, the Westfield San Francisco Centre, Westfield Santa Anita in the Los Angeles metro area, and Westfield UTC in San Diego. Players will be able to experience both Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire and Ralph Breaks VR, with additional experiences planned for release after each location is converted into a permanent installation.
“As the leader in immersive entertainment, The VOID recognizes that consumers are looking for deeper and more meaningful experiences that will bring them closer together with family and friends. The VOID transports consumers as far as their imaginations will go, providing them with an unforgettable entertainment experience that they will want to relive over and over again,” added Curtis Hickman, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of The VOID.
“Partnering with URW and utilizing their footprint of premier destinations will allow us to deliver unprecedented social, out-of-home, and immersive entertainment experiences on a global scale.”
By partnering with major studios and properties (Star Wars, Ghostbusters, and Wreck-It Ralph) and embracing experimental haptic technology, the VOID has quickly become one of the leading providers of AAA location-based immersive entertainment. Each location provides users with one-of-a-kind VR experiences that blend captivating visuals with immersion-enhancing physical elements that engage their senses, from touch and smell to sight and even taste.
The VOID recently opened three new locations at Battery Atlanta, Atlanta, Ga.; Mall of America, Minneapolis, Minn.; and Tyson’s Corner, Washington, D.C..Word has it the company is also working on an unnamed Marvel LBE experience.
For more information on your closes VOID location, visit TheVoid.com.
Featured Image Credit: The VOID
