As a gamer with decades of experience under my belt, witnessing the transformation of video games into real-life attractions is nothing short of mind-boggling. I remember spending countless hours crafting intricate landscapes within the pixelated world of Minecraft, and now, those very same creations are set to materialize in the flesh!
The trend is moving towards video games serving as a more dependable source for movie-like content, and this shift has sparked interest among theme park operators who have traditionally relied on successful films to create their most popular attractions. Universal Studios, having achieved success with Super Nintendo World (available in Japan and California, with plans to expand to the new Epic Universe park in Orlando), is about to face competition from attractions based on the Minecraft franchise.
This morning, the annual event for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions kicked off, and The Guardian announced that Merlin Entertainments, which manages Legoland and Alton Towers in the UK, among other locations, has struck a deal to create attractions, hotels, and retail spaces themed around the popular game in both the U.S. and Europe starting from 2026 and 2027. The details of what these attractions will entail are yet to be disclosed.
Minecraft Is One Of The Most Popular Video Games Ever
It’s sure to be an exciting experience for fans of Minecraft, as many have replicated actual-world locations within the game, such as theme parks. The idea of stepping into a physical environment that mirrors Minecraft or even spending a night in a hotel room styled like it could offer a remarkably engaging and immersive adventure.
The immense popularity of Minecraft is undeniable, given it has sold more than 300 million copies worldwide and was acquired by Microsoft in 2014 for an astonishing $2.5 billion. This deal underscores the vastness of the property. Recently, plans for Minecraft-themed park attractions have been unveiled, following the upcoming release of a live-action Minecraft movie next year. Evidently, there’s a significant push to expand and strengthen this brand at present.
This marks the second significant licensing agreement secured by Merlin Entertainments in 2023. Earlier in January, they struck a deal with Hasbro to incorporate Peppa Pig into their LEGO-themed amusement parks.
Where Minecraft Attractions Could Be Built
Potential Minecraft attractions might be self-contained projects or they may find their way into existing amusement parks. In the United States, it’s highly likely that Minecraft will be integrated into one of the three Legoland sites, either in Orlando, Southern California, or New York. It would indeed be appropriate and somewhat ironic to witness Minecraft, a game centered around block construction, incorporated into a LEGO-themed park. Although the visual appearance would vary, the essence would remain consistent.
It appears that as more popular video game franchises transition into theme parks, we might see even more of these transformations in the future. However, since Ubisoft partnered with Storyland Studios back in 2021 for themed entertainment projects, there hasn’t been much progress visible yet.
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but ponder if Disney might be cooking up something extraordinary with Epic Games and Fortnite, given their significant investment in the latter. Could it be that we might soon step into a real-life Fortnite adventure? Only time will tell!
This week, it’s quite possible that we’ll get further details about the recent collaboration between Merlin and Minecraft during the IAAPA Expo.
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2024-11-19 21:37