Stinger Report

Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... AI Constructed Brief The early 2025 entertainment industry calendar has been marked by a surge in trade shows and expos, underscoring rapid innovation and shifting fortunes in the Location-Based Entertainment (LBE) and consumer gaming sectors. Notable launches include Two Bit Circus’s “Dream Park,” leveraging Meta Quest 3’s mixed reality for immersive, “phygital” experiences, and Snap Inc.’s plans to enter LBE with AR glasses. The sector is seeing significant M&A activity, highlighted by Herschend’s acquisition of Palace Entertainment’s US assets from Parques Reunidos, signaling strategic realignment and consolidation. Meanwhile, the consumer games industry faces contraction, with layoffs, declining investment, and key IPs like Niantic’s Pokémon Go studio sold for $3.5 billion as firms pivot to AR platforms. Competitive socializing is booming, with new tech-driven concepts in bowling, shuffleboard, and shooting games targeting hospitality […]

Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... AI Constructed Brief In Part Three of the #StingerReport coverage: The Amusement Expo International (AEI) 2025 showcased key trends shaping the amusement and entertainment industry, with a strong focus on immersive technologies, competitive socializing, and strategic shifts in event organization. Mixed Reality (MR) and Augmented Reality (AR) innovations were prominent, with companies like Verse Immersive and INOWIZE pushing AR experiences into entertainment venues. Competitive socializing gained traction, as exhibitors highlighted platforms such as connected darts, shuffleboards, and mini-golf tailored to social environments. Active entertainment also expanded, with products like Gel Blaster Nexus and Valo Motion’s ‘ValoArena’ gaining attention for their high utilization rates. Meanwhile, international exhibitors emphasized Japanese IP-driven merchandise strategies, leveraging collectible prizes to drive repeat engagement. Despite a slight dip in attendance, the event reflected a "changing of the guard" […]

Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... AI Constructed Brief In Part Two of the #StingerReport coverage: The Amusement Expo International (AEI) 2025 showcased key trends and innovations in the amusement and immersive entertainment industry, highlighting a resurgence in music games and evolving technologies like mixed reality (MR) and virtual reality (VR). BANDAI NAMCO Amusement America emphasized its global rollout of ‘Taiko no Tatsujin’ and introduced new platforms like ‘Wincha,’ a remote play crane app. LAI Games unveiled ‘Cyberpunk 2077: Turf Wars,’ leveraging projection mapping technology, while VR applications like ‘Virtual Rabbids Ultra HD’ and ‘Asphalt 9 Legends Arcade VR’ saw updates off the show floor. Redemption games, capsule collectibles, and branded attractions continued to dominate, with notable releases such as TRIOTECH's interactive theater experiences and Adrenaline Amusement’s UFC-themed UFC Challenge. However, VR’s presence appeared diminished compared to previous […]

Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... AI Constructed Brief In Part One of the #StingerReport coverage: The Amusement Expo International (AEI) 2025 in Las Vegas showcased significant shifts in the amusement and immersive entertainment sector, despite challenging financial conditions. Key trends included restructuring within major trade associations like AAMA and AMOA, the growing prominence of VR applications such as Synthesis VR's free-roaming content and Two Bit Circus's MR public space experiences, and the evolving profitability concerns surrounding VR hardware operations. On the show floor, highlights included Raw Thrills' debut of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ and updates to popular titles like ‘Godzilla Kaiju Wars VR,’ alongside SEGA Amusement International's introduction of ‘Maimai DX USA’ to the Western market, signalling a revival in music gaming. The event also underscored a shift toward innovative partnerships and new product launches, with 70 first-time […]

Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... Rounding off our continued coverage of the Entertainment Attractions and Gaming (EAG) Expo 2025 in London, and the co-located gatherings. Having given an overview of trends in the SIE Expo area we move to the more conventional amusement aspect of the trade event – and then look at the other events impacting the sector.  AI Constructed Brief The Entertainment Attractions and Gaming (EAG) Expo 2025 in London showcased key trends in the amusement and gaming industries, highlighting the growing influence of partnerships between Western and Asian manufacturers, such as TAITO and WAHLAP Technology, and the increasing penetration of music games like KONAMI's Dance Dance Revolution A20+. Notable innovations included immersive experiences like UNIVRSE's VR installations and projection-mapped dining concepts. The event also marked a 23% increase in attendance, signalling a strong recovery […]

Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... Continuing the coverage of the Entertainment Attractions and Gaming (EAG) Expo 2025 in London and concluding the look at the Co-located SIE element and attendees. The show revealed some nuances of how social entertainment is sitting alongside traditional amusement. While at the same time we look at the EAG event key exhibitors. AI Constructed Brief The Entertainment Attractions and Gaming (EAG) Expo 2025 in London showcased the intersection of social entertainment and traditional amusement, highlighting key exhibitors and industry developments. Significant trends included the acquisition of SpringboxVR by SynthesisVR, enhancing their VR content distribution resources, and the introduction of new immersive experiences and active entertainment platforms, such as SimWay's shooting simulator and HOLOVIS's tech-infused mini-golf. The presence of major players like SEGA and BANDAI NAMCO underscored a strategic shift towards integrating social […]

Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... This coverage reports on the conclusion of the developments seen at CES’25 – and starts the reporting from the UK London amusement trade spectacular EAG. Looking at the amusement crossover between immersive tech and new trends in XR. AI Constructed Brief The CES 2025 and EAG Expo have highlighted significant trends in the immersive tech and entertainment sectors that investors should note. At CES, while mixed reality (MR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies gained prominence, virtual reality (VR) appeared to be diminishing in influence, with private showcases indicating a shift towards high-end PC VR solutions featuring advanced optics and eye-tracking capabilities. Additionally, competitive pricing strategies from new manufacturers, such as Play For Dreams, challenge established players like Apple, whose Vision Pro headset has underperformed against expectations. The EAG Expo showcased the expansion […]

Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... The new year, 2025 – the Chinese year of the Snake – was going to be a biblical year no matter how anyone cut it. International turmoil, US presidential changes and continued inflationary pressures, alongside great leaps in technological application and the continued impact of AI. And the year began with a mass of trade conventions in the first two months – illustrating how hectic this year will be. AI Constructed Brief Investors should take note of the significant trends and developments highlighted at CES 2025, which underscore a transformative year for the tech and amusement sectors amidst ongoing economic challenges. The event showcased industry leaders like NVIDIA, Sony, and Meta pivoting towards Mixed Reality (MR) and enhanced AI applications, reflecting a shift away from traditional Virtual Reality (VR). Notable partnerships, such […]

Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... The concluding coverage of the IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) Orlando 2024 – we wind up the coverage on amusement, and look at robots, and AI seen during the show. We conclude all this with a rundown of developments shaping the trade during the mammoth gathering. AI Constructed Brief Part Four - The conclusion of the IAAPA 2024 in Orlando highlighted emerging trends and innovative developments within the amusement and attractions industry, emphasizing increased investment across various sectors. Key highlights included displays from indie game developers like Monkey Splash Studios and Party Time showcasing unique gaming experiences, as well as the introduction of exciting new products from established players such as DOF Robotics and TRIOTECH, which featured advancements in VR and AI-driven technologies. The event attracted around 41,000 attendees, […]

Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... This third part of our four-part coverage of the at IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) Orlando 2024 – and we focus on the social entertainment mini-golf scene, and on amusement applications revealed. AI Constructed Brief Part Three – At IAAPA Orlando 2024, the focus was heavily on the burgeoning social entertainment sector, particularly through innovative mini-golf applications and interactive amusement solutions. Companies like Greenspan introduced tech-infused platforms such as ‘Puttify,’ enhancing traditional mini-golf with digital scoring and social interaction capabilities, showcased notably through their partnership with Topgolf's new facility. Numerous exhibitors demonstrated advanced interactive systems, from AR-enabled games to gamified experiences like 'Neon Bowling' and ‘PlayBox.’ Recognizing the shift towards competitive socializing, traditional amusement manufacturers like ICE and Jersey Jack Pinball unveiled products designed to attract a more social […]