LBX Collective

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...

Over the past decade, the VR sector has evolved significantly, particularly in location-based entertainment (LBE). Charting early innovations in 2015, like 9D pods and motion simulators paved the way for free-roaming multiplayer experiences and VR roller coasters, with major players such as MACK Rides and Merlin exploring VR integration. Despite ambitious projects and initial hype, many early VR a...

A rapid shift in the UK amusement sector, highlighted by increased direct sales and summer activity focus, with key distributor open days showcasing new hardware, including iconic pinball and music games. Notably, the emergence of Redoctane’s ‘Stage Tour’ rhythm game signals innovation amid market hesitancy due to licensing issues. The upcoming ‘Universal United Kingdom Resort’ theme park and Lond...

Sponsored by Intercard ! On this week's show we open with serendipity as the real driver of product-market fit in location-based entertainment XR and why flexibility matters more than a rigid master plan. Then we run through the biggest 2026 signals, from capital tightening and consolidation to experience-led pivots in venues, IP rollouts, and immersive tech. • serendipity as an intentional o...

Sponsored by Intercard ! On this week's show we bring you the operator headlines that matter, from Bowl Expo plans and Fourth of July promo ideas to what we learned walking Augmented World Expo with Kevin Williams. Then we shift into Open & Shut to track what’s opening, what’s closing, and what those moves signal about where location-based entertainment is heading.  • Bowl Expo schedule a...

AAA 2026 Expo highlighted a dynamic shift in Asian amusement technology, with significant advancements in XR, VR, and MR. Notable innovations include immersive VR attractions like Movie Power’s SpinWar and Robot Storm, alongside a surge in free-roam VR arenas from Asian and Western developers. MR integration, projection-mapped experiences, and water-based 4D theaters demonstrated emerging trends,...

Sponsored by Intercard ! On this week's show we argue that the “vibe” of a venue is as important as the attraction mix, and we challenge operators to stop treating location-based entertainment like cookie-cutter venues. We also track the business shocks coming for LBE, from under-16 social media bans to trade show postponements, platform resets, and XR’s accelerating move into out-of-home exp...

China's rapidly expanding amusement, XR, and attraction sectors, which are driving significant investment into next-generation attractions with growing influence on Western markets. Key trends include the resurgence of immersive VR/AR experiences, innovative racing and shooting simulators, and the integration of live remote play and eSports. Chinese manufacturers are increasingly partnering w...

Sponsored by Intercard ! On this week's show we track the biggest location-based entertainment headlines of the week, from new openings to delayed expos, then zoom out with Kevin Williams on what the rapid pace of new immersive entertainment openings means for operators. We weigh what drives repeat visitation, where secondary spend gets missed, and why some venues quietly disappear while thei...

Marking a rapid expansion of immersive attractions leveraging projection-based XR platforms offering frictionless, IP-driven experiences across LBE sectors. Notable developments include new immersive enclosures like NeoXperiences’ ‘Angry Birds’ and Immersive Gamebox’s self-service units, expanding globally amid market restructuring. The rise of large-scale immersive environments, 4D theaters, and...

 The evolving XR landscape in Out-of-Home entertainment faces challenges amid industry churn, with notable closures like RED Tokyo Tower highlighting monetization hurdles. Strategic acquisitions, such as Vertigo Games’ closure and shifting support for VR headsets, reflect industry consolidation and operational difficulties. Meanwhile, the cinema sector is increasingly integrating amusement, gaming...

Sponsored by Intercard ! On this week's show we push back on hospitality-first thinking and argue that the entertainment layer, narrative, and agency are what make location-based venues feel distinct and repeatable. We also track the latest theme park, competitive socializing, XR, VR, and AI moves that are reshaping how operators build and upgrade attractions.  • prioritizing the guest journe...

Sponsored by Intercard ! On this week's show we share major LBE news, plus fresh examples of how IP, pricing, and AI are reshaping guest experiences. Then we dig into ROLLER Capital with Chris Rich and scan the latest openings, acquisitions, and closures with Kevin Williams to see where competitive socializing is headed next.  • Pilot tests for a new rewards platform for the location-based en...

Marking a significant shift in immersive entertainment, marked by a turbulent consumer VR market and evolving sector dynamics. Meta's failed push into consumer VR, massive layoffs, and price hikes signal a retreat from mainstream consumer focus, while Valve’s Steam Frame and new hardware hint at a possible VR revival. Meanwhile, Apple’s Vision Pro struggles with sales and support, pivoting to...

Sponsored by Intercard ! On this week's show we track the new wave of phygital e-karting and why projection-mapped gameplay could change the indoor karting business model. Then we zoom out to the market signals, tech shifts, and operator risks that are quietly reshaping location-based entertainment.  • phygital e-karting as disruptive indoor karting with gamification layers  • open-box low-sp...

Sponsored by Intercard ! On this week's show we track the latest shifts in location-based entertainment, from embedded finance inside POS systems to the on-the-ground realities of what’s opening, what’s closing, and what operators keep getting wrong. Along the way, we connect cashless tech, immersive experiences, arcade supply chain delays, and the simple revenue levers that still matter most...

Sponsored by Intercard ! On this week's show we zoom out on why location-based entertainment keeps announcing openings while closures suddenly go quiet, and why that silence can signal bigger risk than bad news. We also track how "staytainment," IP licensing, and next-gen active play are reshaping what guests expect and what operators must execute.  • lack of announced closures crea...

Sponsored by Intercard ! On this week's show we break down what World Cup season means for location-based entertainment operators, with real examples you can adapt into watch parties, limited-time menus, and ticketed bundles that boost revenue. We also track major openings and closures across the industry, then close with a practical influencer marketing playbook you can use right away. • Int...

Sponsored by Intercard ! On this week's show we argue that private parties are not a side hustle for location-based entertainment, but a core profit engine that many operators still underprice and underpackage. We also track the management shakeups and tech trends shaping competitive socializing, XR attractions, and the global supply chain from the US to China.  • Private hire as the hidden r...

Sponsored by Intercard ! On this week's show we run through the LBE headlines that matter, from where to meet the Intercard team at upcoming events to what Universal’s Epic Universe teaches about building original characters that drive merch and loyalty. Then Kevin Williams joins us for Open & Shut to unpack a wave of new venue openings and why the lack of reported closures might be a war...

Sponsored by Intercard ! On this week's show we bring you a special edition episode with a boots-on-the-ground tour of Canada’s largest indoor adventure park plus a practical framework for selling more group events. Then we go deep on Asia Amusement & Attractions (AAA) Expo 2026 in Guangzhou, breaking down the arcade machines, cabinet trends, and market realities that are shaping what ope...

Sponsored by Intercard ! On this week's show we challenge the idea that a famous IP automatically upgrades an attraction and dig into the real costs, approvals, and operational tradeoffs that come with licensing. We also scan the latest location-based entertainment signals across funding, VR, sportstainment, and the growing tension between hype and execution.  • IP as an amplifier rather than...