Minecraft Enters Real World With $110 Million Global Theme Park Deal (theguardian.com) 8
An anonymous reader shares a report: The global gaming phenomenon Minecraft is coming to the real world for the first time in a global deal to open themed rides, attractions, hotel rooms and retail outlets, starting with the UK and US. Minecraft has struck a deal with UK-headquartered Merlin Entertainments -- Europe's largest theme park operator and the second biggest globally after Disney -- which runs more than 135 attractions in 23 countries including Alton Towers, Legoland, Sea Life, Madame Tussauds and the London Eye.
Under the terms of the deal, Merlin will invest more than $110 million in the first two attractions. They are due to open in the UK and the US in 2026 and 2027, in either an existing theme park or as new city centre attractions. Over the longer term the two companies plan to expand the strategic partnership, which is called "Adventures Made Real," to other countries and territories. Minecraft is the bestselling video game of all time, with 140 million players each month, in territories as disparate as Antarctica and Vatican City, and there are more than 1.3 trillion videos posted by game players on YouTube.
Under the terms of the deal, Merlin will invest more than $110 million in the first two attractions. They are due to open in the UK and the US in 2026 and 2027, in either an existing theme park or as new city centre attractions. Over the longer term the two companies plan to expand the strategic partnership, which is called "Adventures Made Real," to other countries and territories. Minecraft is the bestselling video game of all time, with 140 million players each month, in territories as disparate as Antarctica and Vatican City, and there are more than 1.3 trillion videos posted by game players on YouTube.
So where's the rest of the money? (Score:5, Insightful)
$110M is nowhere near enough for a project like this. The hotel alone will cost at least half that.
"in either an existing theme park or as new city centre attractions"
They don't even have a plan on where to put it or what type of park it will be yet. I guess if they renovate an existing park they could save some money, but still not enough I reckon.
This has serious Fyre Festival energy.
=Smidge=
Re:So where's the rest of the money? (Score:4, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
$110M is nowhere near enough for a project like this. The hotel alone will cost at least half that.
"in either an existing theme park or as new city centre attractions"
They don't even have a plan on where to put it or what type of park it will be yet. I guess if they renovate an existing park they could save some money, but still not enough I reckon.
This has serious Fyre Festival energy. =Smidge=
Damn. Fyre Festival. Now there's a callback to scamaliciousness.
Re:So where's the rest of the money? (Score:5, Funny)
$110M is nowhere near enough for a project like this. The hotel alone will cost at least half that.
That's where you're mistaken: the guests will build their own rooms, saving the park owners millions!
Re: (Score:3)
Considering the company spending the $110M is the largest theme park company in Europe, they probably have an idea about what they're doing.
Notch must be shaking his head (Score:3)
Imagine a hobby turning into this monster.
Figuring out folks wanted FUN not realism was the watershed moment. Wurm was... interesting but never all that fun. Minecraft is basically cocaine in comparison
Okay, FFS. I'm on it. (Score:2)
I am nearly always late to the party. I generally discover that I like things a few years after pop culture has moved on. I'm not so deep into it that I can be called a hipster... yet. But the trajectory isn't good.
So, fine. Today I will try Minecraft.
So dig your in, build and dig your way out ....... (Score:2)