Two Epic Announcements from Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group and Gamefam, a leading metaverse game developer, are joining forces to create Cirque du Soleil’s first-ever immersive experience on Roblox, a global immersive platform where millions of people connect and communicate daily. In Cirque du Soleil Tycoon, users can build their own Cirque du Soleil universe filled with performers, artists, sell-out crowds and some of the most visually stunning performances in the metaverse.
Community members will have the chance to build and manage their own Big Top performance, try their skills in interactive challenges and mini-games, hire acrobats, and set the stage to create their very own custom Cirque du Soleil site. Inspired by Cirque du Soleil’s brand-new touring show, “ECHO”, which explores the relationship between humans and nature, the experience incorporates whimsical and fantastical Cirque du Soleil details and brings existing and new fans together for a behind-the-scenes look at how Cirque du Soleil productions work. Roblox community members will also have access to unique virtual items, such as animal head masks inspired by real-life ECHO costumes, allowing them to customize their avatar and express their creativity in true Cirque du Soleil fashion.
“Cirque du Soleil Tycoon will channel the influence of global online platform Roblox for immersive shared experiences and harness Cirque du Soleil’s high-end entertainment expertise, creative DNA, and multi-generational fanbase. To launch Cirque du Soleil’s first-ever digital experience on a major immersive platform like Roblox made a lot of sense for us – just like the story of ECHO which centers around connection, Roblox is all about bringing people together, and in this case, also enabling us to offer a coveted behind-the-scenes experience to millions of fans at once, sans distance or other physical limitations,” said Sébastien Ouimet, Head of Filmed and Immersive Entertainment at Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group.
This unique experience supports Cirque du Soleil’s newly defined mission to diversify its offering beyond live shows by bringing its world-renowned creative development engine to the immersive world of Roblox and allowing new and existing fans to engage with a first-of-its-kind metaverse experience. “With the creation of Cirque du Soleil Tycoon, we underscore the increasing importance of widening our portfolio of brand experiences across 3D immersive and filmed entertainment, premium content, gaming, and beyond,” notes Nickole Tara, Chief Growth Officer, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group.
“It has been a privilege to bring one of the world’s most admired and magical attractions to Roblox and invite the community to experience Cirque du Soleil beyond the physical big top,” added Ricardo Briceno, Chief Business Officer at Gamefam. “Cirque du Soleil Tycoon serves as yet another great example of how beloved brands can extend their reach and engage new fans right where they are spending time each and every day.”
By tapping into Gamefam’s metaverse gaming expertise, Cirque du Soleil aims to engage some of the 66 million+ daily active players on Roblox, attract a new fan base, and provide people globally an easily accessible way to experience the creativity and universe of Cirque du Soleil. Cirque du Soleil Tycoon will be available for free on Roblox via most platforms and devices, including consoles, PCs, mobile, and tablets starting in summer 2023.
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ENTERTAINMENT GROUP AND COSM JOIN FORCES TO UNVEIL NEW “SHARED REALITY” EXPERIENCE
Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group and Cosm, a leading immersive technology, media, and entertainment company, today announced a partnership to deliver a completely new way to experience Cirque du Soleil. Under the partnership, Cosm will produce and present an iconic Cirque du Soleil show at its forthcoming venues, the first of which will open in Los Angeles in spring 2024 and showcase a 26.6-meter diameter LED dome in a 65,000 total square feet facility.
Cosm’s new generation of venues will bring entertainment to life by utilizing its revolutionary domed and compound curved LED technology to create a larger-than-life ‘’Shared Reality’’ experience that bridges the virtual and physical worlds, all with corresponding sights and sounds. Merging the energy of the crowd, elevated food and beverage service, and state-of-the-art visuals, fans will be able to experience Cirque du Soleil’s avant-garde creativity from a brand-new perspective.
“From our research we know our fans are seeking immersive, emotionally fulfilling experiences featuring creative storytelling through innovative formats that ignite the imagination and foster human connection. This partnership with Cosm will allow us to once again push production and technology boundaries to seamlessly blend virtual and physical worlds and cultivate our connection with fans beyond the stage,’’ commented Sébastien Ouimet, Head of Filmed and Immersive Entertainment at Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group.
This unique immersive experience supports Cirque du Soleil’s goal to diversify its offerings beyond live shows by expanding its portfolio across gaming, premium content, filmed and immersive entertainment, as well as an increased emphasis on licensing and merchandising.
“Cirque du Soleil has established itself time and time again as a category-defining entertainment genre,” added Neil Carty, VP, Head of Cosm Studios at Cosm. “Its combination of live theater, circus arts, and immersive storytelling has captivated audiences around the world. We’re excited for this partnership to bring an iconic Cirque performance to our venues in Shared Reality.”
Cosm recently broke ground at its first venue in Los Angeles at Hollywood Park, adjacent to SoFi Stadium and Intuit Dome, and announced its second venue in Dallas at Grandscape, with plans to expand to additional locations in key markets. Details around the schedule of events upon the opening of these venues will be shared at a later date.
