Gamers Can Now Rent Movie Theaters To Play Games On The Big Screen

• In a bid to stay afloat amid the pandemic, movie theater chains in the United States and South Korea are now opening their doors to gamers.
• For a fee, gamers can rent cinemas for at least 2 hours.
• Gamers also have to bring their own games, consoles, and controllers.

Most avid gamers have probably fantasized about how awesome it would be to play their favorite games in a movie theater. Well now that’s a reality – at least in the United States and South Korea.

As the reports tell us, South Korea’s largest movie theater chain CGV has been renting out their cinemas to interested gamers. Provided that they bring their own games, consoles and controllers, a maximum of 4 gamers could have the big screen for 2 hours by paying $90. The fee increases to $135 beyond 6PM.

In a media interview, 25-year-old Eui Jeong Lee shared that she and her friends rented a 200-seat CGV theater for 2 hours. According to her, playing there has taken the gaming experience to a whole new level.

“The sound quality is particularly amazing,” She pointed out. “The sound of the gunshots is just so vivid, and when something flew directly at me from the screen I even screamed.”

CGV worker Seung Woo Han, who came up with the concept, said:

“When thinking about how to make use of empty cinema spaces, I noticed that games nowadays boast excellent graphics and well structured stories just like movies. Both have a storytelling aspect to them, so if someone can enjoy watching a film in the cinema, I thought they would also enjoy playing computer games in one.”

At the moment, cinemas are only restricted to 50% capacity and they’re doing this as a new source of income amid the pandemic.

Meanwhile, in the US, gamers may also book Malco Theaters at $100 for 2 hours or $150 for 3 hours. The cinema chain has 36 cinemas across Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

“It is gaining traction, and is becoming popular, but nothing is adding to our profitability at this point,” admitted Malco vice president and marketing director Karen Melton.