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New High-Tech Immersive Gaming Attraction Arrives In Dubai
The City Centre Mirdif facility comes courtesy of Canada’s Activate Games and blends fitness and gaming for thrilling, tech-savvy entertainment.
Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment has joined forces with Canada’s Activate Games to bring a thrilling, tech-driven gaming experience to City Centre Mirdif. The new facility is Activate’s debut project in the MENA region, and reimagines indoor entertainment by merging gaming with fitness to specifically appeal to Dubai’s tech-focused population.
Activate at City Centre Mirdif offers nine unique game rooms that incorporate advanced technology to create an environment where players must jump, dodge, climb, and solve puzzles in more than 50 interactive games. A highlight of the experience, the Mega Grid, has already gone viral on TikTok, attracting attention with its dazzling array of over 500 lights that respond to players’ movements.
Activate’s Dubai location includes 10 levels of game difficulty, spanning from beginner to advanced, making it accessible to all skill levels. Adam Schmidt, CEO and founder of Activate, emphasizes that this experience goes beyond typical fitness or gaming: “With our innovative games engineered for repeat play, we offer a dynamic space for friends, families, and teams to connect, have fun, and stay active. This is a fresh take on entertainment that has made Activate the fastest-growing entertainment concept in the world”.
A central feature of Activate’s success lies in its use of RFID technology, which enables seamless tracking of player progress and achievements. Players earn rewards and badges based on game performance, adding a layer of gamification that keeps them coming back. “Our use of RFID technology allows for seamless tracking and progress, and our reward and badge system adds extra motivation, with players earning badges and rewards based on their achievements,” Schmidt explains.
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As interest in gaming continues to surge in the Middle East, Activate’s timing is ideal to meet the region’s increasing demand for tech-driven entertainment. Positioned as the first experience of its kind in the MENA region, Activate at City Centre Mirdif is set to attract a broad range of visitors, from families to gaming enthusiasts, all seeking a novel and active form of entertainment, he says.
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Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
According to Korean sources, the new wearable will launch alongside the Galaxy S25, with the accompanying software platform unveiled this December.
Samsung appears poised to introduce its highly anticipated smart glasses in January 2025, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25. According to sources in Korea, the company will first reveal the accompanying software platform later this month.
As per a report from Yonhap News, Samsung’s unveiling strategy for the smart glasses echoes its approach with the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. The January showcase won’t constitute a full product launch but will likely feature teaser visuals at the Galaxy S25 event. A more detailed rollout could follow in subsequent months.
Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images.
Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce…
— Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) December 3, 2024
The Galaxy Ring, for example, debuted in January via a short presentation during Samsung’s Unpacked event. The full product unveiling came later at MWC in February, and the final release followed in July. Samsung seems to be adopting a similar phased approach with its smart glasses, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025.
A Collaborative Software Effort
Samsung’s partnership with Google has played a key role in developing the smart glasses’ software. This collaboration was first announced in February 2023, with the device set to run on an Android-based platform. In July, the companies reiterated their plans to deliver an extended reality (XR) platform by the end of the year. The software specifics for the XR device are expected to be unveiled before the end of December.
Reports suggest that the smart glasses will resemble Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in functionality. They won’t include a display but will weigh approximately 50 grams, emphasizing a lightweight, user-friendly design.
Feature Set And Compatibility
The glasses are rumored to integrate Google’s Gemini technology, alongside features like gesture recognition and potential payment capabilities. Samsung aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating the glasses with its broader Galaxy ecosystem, starting with the Galaxy S25, slated for release on January 22.
Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
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