Location-based entertainment (LBE) immersive experiences provider, The Park Playground has announced the opening of a second brand-new, state-of-the-art immersive virtual reality entertainment venue in Birmingham. This new venue is the second of three planned company-owned locations in the UK, in addition to its planned franchised locations. Each venue offers unique and competitive VR experiences that are suitable for everyone aged 7 and over.
The launch of its Birmingham venue marks a significant milestone for The Park Playground as it continues to grow in both visitors and revenue. Since being founded in 2018, The Park Playground has gone from strength-to-strength, doubling its top-line revenue in 2022. In Q1 of this year, The Park Playground also noted a significant increase in visitors, welcoming more than 20,000 at its venues around the world – double that of previous quarters. With 13 owned and franchised venues across four countries – most recently entering the APAC market for the first time in Brisbane, Australia – the company continues to grow its footprint and lead the way for inclusive location-based entertainment experiences.
“Our substantial investment in the UK market reflects the thriving interest in virtual reality technology and the increasing demand for engaging social experiences beyond the confines of home entertainment,” said Peter Vindevogel, CEO of The Park Playground. “This opening reflects one of our main goals to connect people of all ages with the incredible possibilities of VR from experiencing the future of entertainment to providing an opportunity to explore the emerging world of the Metaverse. As we approach doubling our revenue once again this year, our new venue in Birmingham’s vibrant Brindleyplace, is the perfect addition to our expanding UK portfolio.”
The Birmingham venue will offer an exciting array of interactive and competitive immersive experiences, including the new fully mobile, free-roam, NANOCLASH FOCUS. Developed in partnership with HTC and Triangle Factory, NANOCLASH FOCUS is a first-of-its-kind eSports-inspired VR battle experience that allows two opposing teams to compete on two independent fields simultaneously. The experience also kickstarted The Park Playground’s journey experimenting with the use of artificial intelligence (AI), having used the technology in the development phase to streamline their workflows.
“We’re committed to creating immersive experiences that appeal to all groups of people, of all ages. Often, location-based entertainment (LBE) VR is a person’s first introduction to virtual reality, so this is something we take into consideration from the very early stages when developing games. Whether you’re a corporate team, a group of friends or looking for family entertainment, The Park has fun and interactive experiences appropriate for all,” comments Thomas Roozen, Head of Business Development at The Park Playground.
