LBX Collective

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by PartyPing ! On this week's show we track the week’s biggest LBE moves, from cashless tech and trade show stops to a new rewards platform teaser and a community-driven wellness event idea operators can copy. We also debate a Titanic-themed kids slide on the new Hot Mess Express segment, then zoom out on openings, closures, arcade releases, and a no-fluff g...

​Interest in the rising influence of transmedia in entertainment, exemplified by the integration of arcade IP, movie tie-ins, and merchandise, notably in gaming, toys, and theme parks. The resurgence of retro gaming and arcade crossovers, supported by major licenses like Street Fighter and Sonic, underline a strategic shift towards nostalgic IP-driven growth. Meanwhile, innovations like “Everyday...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by PartyPing ! On this week's show we look at the flood of new openings and ask whether the location-based entertainment boom can last. We connect price pressure, overbuilt concepts, and recent closures to one core idea: the market is not sustainable at this pace, but it can be survivable if we stick to fundamentals.  • Why rapid rollouts create saturation r...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by PartyPing ! On this week's show we catch up on what’s changing across family entertainment and location-based entertainment, from cashless tech and loyalty experiments to a grounded look at what actually drives repeat visits. Chris King from Monster Mini Golf shares how culture-first franchising and local connection can scale without losing the human touc...

​Coverage points to a sector in transition: sportstainment and competitive socializing venues are adding arcade and retro amusement to diversify revenues and refresh propositions. Topgolf, Swingers and others are testing hardware mixes, while multicades and revived Atari titles signal interest in IP. Projection mapping and spatial augmented reality are emerging as layers across pool, ping-pong, mi...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by PartyPing ! On this week's show we challenge the idea that buying new machines automatically upgrades a venue, then get specific about how placement, spectator flow, and screen control shape revenue and repeat visits. We also trace the latest moves across sportstainment, competitive socializing, VR and XR, and end with a blunt warning about AI hype, slopp...

​This report highlights key trends in the evolving multi-activity entertainment landscape, emphasizing significant investments in “Mixed Use Leisure Entertainment” (MULE) venues designed to boost dwell time and repeat visits through diverse attractions like electric go-karts, immersive gaming, and social experiences. Major players such as Gravity Active Entertainment, Hollywood Bowl, and Little Li...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by PartyPing ! On this week's show we track the pressure building in location-based entertainment as big concepts face real revenue tests and executive shakeups start piling up. We weigh what’s hype versus what’s profitable across competitive socializing, brand activations, immersive art, and the next wave of mixed-use venues.  • boardroom “panic” signals as...

Competitive socializing faces a pivotal reset as high-profile failures, fresh investment, and evolving concepts reshape the sector. The collapse of cricket-themed chain SIXES, marked by closures, debt exposure, and a flawed business model, highlights structural risks despite prior backing and celebrity involvement. Meanwhile, capital continues to flow into scalable concepts, with Level99 securing...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by PartyPing ! On this week's show we look at how small, well-timed moves create outsized results in location-based entertainment, from Halloween turning into a full season to AI-driven gamification that pushes repeat visits. We also get tactical on birthday party marketing, including why SMS works only when it feels personal, relevant, and restrained.  • In...

The evolving tech landscape reveals a shift from consumer VR to AI-powered smart glasses, with major players like Apple pivoting away from VR headsets due to pricing and market challenges, focusing instead on AI eyewear. Privacy concerns, exemplified by Meta’s aborted AI app ‘Muse,’ threaten to undermine smart glasses adoption, while Lenovo’s exit from XR enterprise signals industry contraction. M...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by PartyPing ! On this week's show we argue that today’s guests want agency and creation, which forces location-based entertainment to embrace real gamification instead of bolt-on gimmicks. We also break down the week’s biggest market signals, from travel slowdowns and brand expansions to tech pivots that can reshape operations overnight.  • gamification as...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by PartyPing ! On this week's show we break down the week’s most useful location-based entertainment news and pull out the operator lessons hiding inside it, from leagues and community stunts to what openings and closings say about the market. We also get tactical on AI, including what we think is smart to automate and what can quietly damage your brand. • u...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by PartyPing ! On this week's show we ask whether entertainment leaders can still understand what modern audiences want when guest behavior keeps shifting toward faster, more interactive play. We track the business fallout across studios and location-based entertainment, then end on a real-world London walkthrough that tests what concepts stay busy in an ove...

Leading investors should note the industry’s evolving landscape, as IBE’26 highlights a surge in boutique and social bowling, driven by the social entertainment revolution, challenging traditional sports bowling. The event showcased innovations in social gaming, AR, VR, and turnkey amusement solutions, with a notable shift towards direct-to-operator sales and a potential disruption of longstanding...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by PartyPing ! On this week's show we move from quick industry headlines into a two-week flood of openings and closures that reveals where location-based entertainment is expanding and where the business model is breaking. We share what we’re seeing across active entertainment, VR, golf sims, bowling, and retro arcades, plus the operational details that actu...

This following article signals a sector entering a more selective phase: UK competitive socializing is still attracting capital, but growth is increasingly concentrated in operators with scale, mixed-use formats, and clearer repeat-visit appeal. The strongest names are expanding through new openings and acquisitions, while weaker concepts face administrations, closures, and oversupply in crowded m...

The UK social entertainment sector's dynamic growth, exemplified by high-profile launches and increasing investment in immersive venues and competitive socializing concepts across London and Manchester. Key developments include London's immersive experience hubs like Venue Picadilly Lights and new venue Poolhouse, backed by significant funding, and the expansion of brands such as Fogg’s...

At AWE 2026, leading investors observed a strategic pivot in XR, with a renewed focus on Location-Based Entertainment (LBE) and enterprise applications amid sector volatility. Qualcomm’s dominance with XR2 Gen2 processors, alongside new headsets from Lynx, Samsung, and Canon, signals a shift toward more affordable, powerful XR systems. The event highlighted significant advancements in LBE content,...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by PartyPing ! On this week's show we break down how retail centers are rebuilding around entertainment anchors and why that shift forces operators to rethink design, guest flow, and the real competitive set. Then we hit the week’s business and tech trends, from risky flagship leases to big IP takeovers and the growing backlash to subscription-first hardware...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by PartyPing ! On this week's show we move from industry headlines to on-the-ground operator tactics, from cashless payments and self-service kiosks to what openings and closures reveal about where location-based entertainment is headed. We also share a practical marketing system that turns a simple giveaway into a long-term audience engine for email, SMS, a...

Focusing on the evolving XR landscape, highlighted by AWE’s focus on LBE XR innovation. The event showcased a shift towards dedicated showrooms, enterprise-driven applications, and new hardware like PICO’s Swan MR headset. Key trends include consolidation in VR content platforms, a surge in MR experiences such as DreamPark’s kits, and the rise of AR in entertainment, exemplified by meleap’s HADO a...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by PartyPing ! On this week's show we discuss how franchising looks like a shortcut to scale, but we keep seeing the same cycle of hype, misaligned incentives, and operators holding the bag when a model is not truly proven. We connect the dots across competitive socializing, theme parks, VR, and IP-driven venues to figure out what sustainable growth actually...

The Asian amusement sector is rapidly evolving, with IAAPA Asia 2026 showcasing increased investment in media attractions, immersive XR experiences, and frictionless cashless payment systems driven by Chinese government support and regional demand. Despite a 25% decline in attendance, the event highlighted a surge in active gamified play, innovative VR/AR attractions, and social entertainment mode...

Sponsored by Intercard ! Sponsored by PartyPing ! On this week's show we run through the biggest quick hits in location-based entertainment, from cashless payment tech and mini golf growth to Orlando’s returning live entertainment. We also track the week’s openings and closures with Kevin Williams, then wrap with Chuck DeMonte’s blunt reminder that seasonality is solved months in advance, not...