LBX Collective

In this special feature of Virtual Arena we look at the developments in the educational and technology (EduTech) sector, while attending Europe’s largest teaching and training convention, and see the deployment of the latest VR headsets and classroom applications proving the strength of XR in this sector. Subscribe and visit LBX Collective for more!

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's show we discuss Amusement Expo momentum, immersive F&B bets in Vegas, a major leadership move at Topgolf, and a slate of arcades, kart tracks, and VR arenas opening, evolving, or closing. Adam Pratt shares new games that matter for barcades and FECs, and Chuck DeMonte lays out a practical marketing funnel to turn awareness into...

The evolving landscape of social entertainment is significantly reshaping the amusement industry, as evidenced by EAG 2026 in London, where a record number of exhibitors showcased products blending amusement with immersive social experiences. Key trends include the integration of competitive socializing venues with traditional amusement offerings, exemplified by innovations from SEGA Amusement Int...

 The start of 2026 has already delivered significant insights into the amusement and social entertainment markets, with the UK’s EAG 2026 standing out as a key indicator of emerging trends. The event showcased record-breaking exhibitor participation, highlighting innovations in amusement, VR, and gamified social platforms, including motorbike gaming and interactive shuffleboard. Notably, social en...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's show we discuss how leadership changes ripple across our industry as CFOs step into CEO roles, raising questions about vision, risk, and long-term brand health. We weigh Disney’s shift, Six Flags’ policy pivots, VR’s LBE momentum, and the transmedia race between Netflix Houses and iQIYI Land. • CFO-to-CEO executive shakeups and bran...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's show we track how adult-focused, social, and authentic experiences are reshaping location-based entertainment, with Randy White from White Hutchinson sharing new data on spending, time use, and shifting tastes. Open & Shut with Kevin Williams maps the freshest openings, risky bets, and quiet closures across the U.S., Europe, Jap...

The consumer VR market faces significant headwinds amid major industry shifts, with declining headset sales and strategic retreats from key players. Valve’s unveiling of the ‘Steam Frame’ signals a high-end PC VR resurgence, emphasizing streamed infrastructure and extensive ecosystem support, potentially marking a last-ditch effort for mainstream adoption. Conversely, Meta’s scaled-back investment...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's show we examine the inflection point in location-based entertainment, from Disney’s leadership reset to retail game declines, and why competitive socializing and IP-led experiences are setting the pace.  • Disney’s CEO transition and creative leadership realignment • Videogame retail collapse as demand shifts to experiences • Chuck...

The opening of 2026 signals a turbulent yet dynamic year for the entertainment investment landscape, marked by major M&A activity, strategic restructuring, and technological innovation. Notably, Netflix’s $82.7 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery is expected to reshape content IP management and theme park strategies, exemplified by Warner’s rebranding efforts and legacy IP implicatio...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's show we break down the IAPPA Brass Ring winners, why Hupalupa’s guest-first design stands out, and whether an immersive museum belongs in LBE. We unpack CEC’s CEO shift, BW rants about costly IP skins on proven earners, and scan global openings from VR arenas to clawcades and F1’s mega play in Vegas. • Brass Ring wins for FEC and LB...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's show we weigh Meta’s VR retreat against the strength of premium, social LBE VR, then follow the money through rebrands, mergers, and a wave of manufacturers turning operator. Along the way we call out hard lessons on platform risk, event-led activations, and how edutainment sustains repeat visits.    • Meta reduces VR spend, LBE VR...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's show we scan the FEC and arcade landscape with fresh openings, smart marketing examples, and cautionary tales that point to what actually drives repeat visits and revenue. From Cornhole Golf’s TikTok playbook to archery dodgeball and Dollywood’s employee storytelling, the lesson is design for people, not just hardware. • KartNation...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's show we look at how AI agents now handle first-contact birthday party and corporate bookings, why you still need skilled closers, and what that means for conversion and margins. We also unpack Disney’s pivot toward original-trilogy Star Wars, leadership moves in FEC chains, the pickleball and padel ceiling, soccer tech venue competi...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's show we unpack Area 15’s phase two expansion, then go deep with Fun Across America's Barry Zelickson on how IAAPA Brass Ring FEC/LBE of the Year awards are decided and what sets finalists apart. The back half tackles LBE category confusion, market openings with Kevin Williams, and the ruthless math of pricing and relevance. • A...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's show we trace where sportainment actually works for guests, where it slips into sports training, and how competitive socializing reshapes what operators buy and build. From CES signals and Meta’s retrenchment to EAG’s on-the-floor realities, we highlight tech that matters and formats that last. • the split between competitive social...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's show, Clint Novak joins us for a Guest Gab in a high-energy tour of the LBE landscape anchored by Planet Novak’s rapid claw-arcade launch, clear payout strategy, and a staff-first service model that turns frustration into wins. We then scan global openings and boutique bowling’s rise with Kevin William, EAG’s standout machines with...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's show we walk through the biggest shifts in location-based entertainment—from 3D-printed maintenance and executive shakeups to immersive enclosures, data-driven operators, and a field report from Netflix House Dallas with concrete operational takeaways. The throughline: execution beats hype, and learning beats denial. • Using local 3...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's show, we trace how Lego’s Smart Play raised the bar for interactivity at home, why Sega’s Neo Shuffle signals their foray into social gaming, and how Fever is evolving from pop-ups to a discovery-and-venue platform. Openings, closures, and rebrands reveal what’s working and what isn’t in 2026. • IAAPA FEC Summit news and Foundation...

Leading investors should note key industry shifts from IAAPA 2025, reflecting a dynamic amusement landscape heading into 2026. Trends include the rise of two-seater and hybrid attractions, increased licensing collaborations, and a surge in shooting and AI-driven robotics, exemplified by autonomous service robots and innovative escape rooms. Rising costs, driven by RAM shortages and supply chain pr...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's show we update our lexicon for 2026 and make the case for LBX over LBE, then track the money as consoles stagnate, retail shifts to showroom mode, and IP owners push into physical transmedia experiences. Then we wrap up with Kevin's 2026 predictions in our industry.  • LBX as a clearer term than LBE • Transmedia framing for ven...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's show, BW grade last year’s 2025 predictions and closes out with his 2026 predictions, Kevin Williams tracks openings and closures across markets, and Chuck DeMonte lays out clear moves to win in 2026. From cranes and gashapon to mission rooms, XR fitness, and IP-led venues, the theme is positioning, proof, and product discipline. •...

Leading investors should note the industry’s rapid shift towards immersive active entertainment, exemplified by innovations like Gel Blaster’s Gen2 platform, social media integration, and gamified trampoline experiences. Interactive floor games, such as Pixel World and Illumination systems, are expanding with partnerships like Atari, signaling a competitive and fast-growing market. The sector also...

Investors should note IAAPA 2025's key trends highlighting rapid advancements in immersive projection mapping, AR, and social entertainment, notably in gaming and gamified experiences. Projection mapping continues to evolve with new karting and escape game platforms, while AR, supported by Snap Spectacles, is poised for growth in attraction deployment. The social gaming sector is booming, dri...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's show we argue for a clean break from the isolating nature of VR to the more social interactive XR, trace the fallout from streaming and retail shakeups, and spotlight where IP-driven venues thrive or falter. From Universal’s UK greenlight to the rise of challenge rooms, the throughline is simple: design for people together. Finally,...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's show, we close the year by discussing trending topics such as inclusive operations, capital access concerns, AI that trains rather than just entertains, and how transmedia keeps brands front-of-mind. Then Chuck DeMonte maps a simple, focused plan to grow in 2026 on a tight budget in the Promo Pro Tips segment. • IAAPA FEC Summit det...