An immersive interactive Squid Game experience has been approved by Netflix and is set to open this fall. The Korean drama-thriller dropped on Netflix last September and quickly became a worldwide sensation. After accumulating 1.65 billion viewing hours within its first month, the series became Netflix's most-watched television series in its history. Although the show was initially intended to be a single season, due to the series' popularity, Squid Game was renewed for season 2.
Squid Game follows poor divorced gambling addict Seong Gi-hun/Player 456 (Lee Jung-jae), who agrees to a mysterious proposition where he could win a lot of money by competing in a series of children's games. The seemingly innocuous event quickly turns deadly when it is revealed that the penalty for losing these games is death. With reality feeling more hopeless than the sick tournament, Gi-hun teams up with Kang Sae-byeok/Player 067 (HoYeon Jung), Ali Abdul/Player 199 (Anupam Tripathi), and Cho Sang-woo/Player 218 (Park Hae-soo) to beat the game.
Now, Netflix has approved an immersive interactive Squid Game experience that will allow fans of the series to take part in a risk-free version of the tournament. Per THR, the event is organized by Immersive Gamebox, an interactive gaming company, and will be unveiled in New York City's Lower East Side this fall. Two to six players can participate in the experience inside one of the studio's Gameboxes, which use a system of motion sensors, touch screens, and projections to simulate the popular show. Read what Immersive Gamebox's CEO Will Dean had to say about the upcoming project.
"People are constantly seeking new and different ways to remain invested in their favorite content. To reimagine Netflix’s most popular show in an entirely new format offers customers more ways to stay connected to Squid Game."
Not to be confused with the Squid Game reality competition, which would pit contestants against each other for a real chance to win $4.56 million, the immersive experience is a harmless way to further enjoy one of the most popular shows on Netflix. Squid Game is not the first major Netflix property to get a public interactive event. Both Stranger Things and Bridgerton received themed immersive experiences of their own in various cities around the world that can still be enjoyed today.
The conceit of Squid Game naturally lent itself to a recreation of the series' games and tournament in real life. Fans have already staged their own versions of the terrifying competition, minus the murder, of course. Even the popular YouTuber, Mr. Beast, recreated nearly every event from the series with $456,000 in prize money. Now, audiences can finally experience a Netflix-approved version of Squid Game while waiting for season 2 to be released in the coming years.
Source: THR