The New Cinema: Designing & Monetizing Shared, Transformative Immersive Experiences

As location-based entertainment evolves from experimental novelty into essential cultural destinations, a new form of cinema is emerging that transforms passive viewers into active participants who experience stories together with friends and family.

This panel brings together pioneering creators who are redefining immersive entertainment through powerful spatial storytelling and meaningful shared presence. From breathtaking ocean expeditions to reimagined literary classics, these experiences allow groups to explore, interact, and create memories side-by-side in virtual worlds that feel vividly real. And unlike even the most elaborate theme park, XR can transport us directly into the worlds of our most beloved stories—not as observers, but as participants in the narrative itself, exploring fantastical environments and iconic moments that would be impossible to build in physical space.

The discussion will explore the creative, technical, and business challenges of building the “New Cinema,” including:

• Designing emotionally resonant, room-scale XR experiences that foster genuine interaction and shared presence between participants

• Creating social dynamics where friends and family can explore, play, and connect with each other inside the story, leaving transformed

• Developing sustainable business models for location-based immersive experiences that require positive unit economics with global partnerships

Whether you’re developing your first immersive project or your fiftieth, this session delivers practical, battle-tested insights from creators who have successfully turned transformative, socially engaging ideas into commercially viable experiences.