Virsona, a social video gaming and entertainment concept, has opened an experiential, semi-permanent pop-up “speakeasy” inside 787 Coffee on West 30th Street in New York City. Developed in partnership with Gensler, the concept was formulated to blend social interaction, entertainment and cutting-edge technology.
The pop-up replicates an elevated living room experience where friends, coworkers, family and strangers can interact with various gaming and digital entertainment options. Virsona’s proprietary “portal” is at the heart of the experience. This semi-private enclosure is outfitted with tiered seating, multiple high-end displays, audio, and custom hardware and software that can be controlled by the guest. Groups of up to 12 people can step inside the portal to interact with the different social and gaming options, and even enjoy light bites, beverages and thoughtfully curated music.
“This is much more than just a place to play video games and we’re excited to give everyone a taste of what we’ve envisioned,” said Grant Kimmerling, Co-founder and CEO of Virsona in a statement. “This is an entirely new category in the world of experiential entertainment that connects people through the largest form of entertainment, gaming. More people are gaming today than ever before, so our aim is to challenge traditional stereotypes and redefine how gaming is perceived and experienced, similar to what other successful concepts have done for activities such as golf, pickleball and ping-pong.”
The pop-up serves as a teaser to Virsona’s first permanent store location, which is scheduled to open early 2024 in New York City. The company plans to further expand this concept across multiple cities in the future.
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