A little while ago, we had the unexpected appearance of a new VR arcade game that was put on test in my “backyard” of Utah – Kung Fu Panda: The Warrior’s Gauntlet by the mysterious newcomer, Night Heron Entertainment. Today, we can talk about it, as the game has received an official reveal. Let’s dive in.
Kung Fu Panda In VR
This is not the first time that the Kung Fu Panda IP has graced arcades, although the previous effort was a videmption game and not a virtual reality one. Our previous look at the game was very brief from a blurry video, so we only had a slight idea of what it entailed. I have not had the time to drive down to the town where the game has been testing (roughly 45 min away) so unfortunately have not been able to see it for myself. But thanks to today’s press release and media kit, we can take a look at it together.
The Cabinet
This is being sold in Night Heron’s “Lynx” design, which will serve as a VR game delivery platform in arcades. It sports a large 80″ screen for onlookers to see what is going on, then the player uses an HTC Focus 3 headset to interact with the environment. This unit also uses a haptic floor to immerse the player while they punch their way to victory.
The cabinet itself is around 7′ deep, giving enough room for one person to play comfortably. The headset is attached to the cab using a steel cord.
I haven’t heard how the game has been doing on test, although the Fat Cats in Saratoga Springs is one of the chain’s best performing locations.
The Game
Instead of playing as the protagonist Po, you become one of his students, working through a series of challenges that last 2~3 minutes on your path to become a Kung Fu Master. Graphically, it comes in with a lot of detail, although I’m not sure if they are using an existing engine like Unreal, or have done their own thing. Here’s a quick teaser.
This will debut to the industry at IAAPA 2024 at the AVS Companies booth (#1617); it will be joined by Asteroids Recharged DX by Alan-1 (interestingly enough, both of these products come from Utah-based developers). It will launch early next year, although what the MSRP on it will be has not been revealed at this time.
What are your thoughts on this from what has been shown so far?
Press Release
New VR Game DreamWorks Kung Fu Panda: The Warrior’s Gauntlet Set to Debut at IAAPA Expo 2024
Exciting New Title Brings Cutting-Edge 4D Gameplay to Arcades Everywhere
American Fork, Utah – Night Heron Entertainment, an emerging leader in VR and amusement game development, in collaboration with Universal Products & Experiences, today announced DreamWorks Kung Fu Panda: The Warrior’s Gauntlet, set to debut later this month on November 18, 2024. This new VR game, utilizing their proprietary Lynx™ cabinet, will be fully playable for the first time at the IAAPA Expo, the premier event for the global attractions industry, held in Orlando, Florida.
This groundbreaking arcade game, inspired by DreamWorks Animation’s beloved Kung Fu Panda franchise, promises to deliver an exhilarating 4D experience for players of all ages. In DreamWorks Kung Fu Panda: The Warrior’s Gauntlet, Po guides players through a series of challenges to become a Kung Fu Master. Night Heron has seamlessly combined state-of-the-art VR technology with the rich universe of DreamWorks Kung Fu Panda, offering fans a chance to immerse themselves in a captivating and interactive new experience.
Attendees of the IAAPA Expo 2024 will be some of the first in the world to experience the game at the AVS Companies booth, #1617, the official distributor for the product. Visitors to the booth will have the opportunity to enjoy hands-on gameplay, interact with the developer, and explore the cutting-edge features that set this title apart in the world of arcade gaming.
“We’re excited to debut our new platform at IAAPA and give people their first chance to experience it,” said Landon Christensen, CEO of Night Heron Entertainment. “With the support of our partners at Universal Products & Experiences, we’re pushing the boundaries of arcade gaming. We can’t wait for players to dive into the innovative gameplay and visual quality that bring this experience and more to life, showcasing our vision for the future of immersive games.”
DreamWorks Kung Fu Panda: The Warrior’s Gauntlet will be available for commercial distribution in Q1 2025, with AVS Companies leading distribution efforts across North America. Retailers, arcade operators, and family entertainment venues interested in adding the game to their lineup can contact AVS Companies for orders and inquiries.
DreamWorks Kung Fu Panda The Warrior’s Gauntlet © 2024 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved.
About Night Heron Entertainment
Night Heron Entertainment is a developer and designer of amusement products, games, and software, headquartered in American Fork, UT. With over a decade of leadership experience in immersive entertainment across many platforms, Night Heron Entertainment brings critical agility to a rapidly changing market, quickly adapting products to the latest consumer trends. Inquiries about Night Heron Entertainment can be made at NightHeronEntertainment.com.
About AVS Companies
AVS Companies (AVS) is a distributor of amusement, gaming and vending equipment headquartered in Elk Grove Village, IL. Founded in Chicago in 1971, AVS has established itself as the preeminent full-service gaming, amusement, and vending distributor in the US for 50 years with offices in Illinois, Minnesota, Texas and Wisconsin. AVS offers a complete range of services to their customers and the manufacturers they represent, from the sale of equipment and parts to comprehensive repair and refurbishing. More information on AVS is available at www.avscompanies.com or www.facebook.com/avscompanies.
About DreamWorks Animation’s KUNG FU PANDA
Inspired by traditional martial arts and set in ancient China, Kung Fu Panda tells the epic tale of wide-eyed Po, whose love of kung fu is matched only by an insatiable appetite. The Academy Award®-nominated 2008 inaugural chapter became DreamWorks’ highest-grossing original animated film. With the release of Kung Fu Panda 4, the film franchise has earned more than $2 billion at the global box
office. With its massive fan base, the franchise has expanded to a cross-category consumer products program, video games, an Emmy Award-winning television series and global Universal Destinations & Resorts theme-park attractions.
About UNIVERSAL PRODUCTS & EXPERIENCES
Universal Products & Experiences (UP&E) globally drives the expansion and elevation of NBCUniversal’s iconic collection of brands, intellectual properties, characters, and stories based on the company’s extensive portfolio of properties created by Universal Pictures, Illumination, DreamWorks Animation and NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. The division executes this through innovative physical and digital products, as well as engaging retail and product experiences across our expansive global theme park destinations (for both owned and third-party IP), location-based venues, e-commerce product platforms, and retailers around the world. Along with global brand strategy and creative, UP&E’s lines of business include Consumer Products and Games, along with Theme Parks Products & Retail. UP&E is a division of Universal Destinations & Experiences, part of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. More information is available at universalproductsexperiences.com.
