Canadian entertainment brand Activate is set to make its Australian debut with the launch of Activate Melbourne (Highpoint) in early 2027, marking the company's first foray into the Asia-Pacific region. The venue will be located within the Highpoint Shopping Centre in Maribyrnong, Victoria, situated adjacent to HOYTS Cinema, and will introduce the brand's signature active gaming experience to Australian players.
The Melbourne location will house 12 immersive game rooms offering more than 800 levels of physical and mental challenges. Using RFID technology, each player is tracked across rooms, enabling them to level up, unlock achievements, and earn Next Level Rewards. Games on offer include fan favorites such as Mega Grid, Mega Laser, Strike, and Hide, with teams of two to five players competing together to complete objectives.
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Players will also have the opportunity to compete globally through the Activate Global League and the annual Tournament of Champions, connecting participants across the brand's international network. With venues already operating in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, Activate has cultivated a worldwide community centered on competition and social interaction.
Adam Schmidt, Co-Founder and CEO of Activate, described Australia as a natural next step in the company's global expansion strategy. "We're excited to bring what we've built in Canada to Australia and introduce a new community of players to the games, technology and energy that make Activate unique," he said in a statement. The company, which designs, engineers, and manufactures its systems in Winnipeg, Manitoba, currently operates over 80 locations worldwide.
The Melbourne opening is expected to be the first of several planned launches across Australia, as Activate continues to scale its presence in the region. In preparation, the company is actively recruiting for a range of local positions and encourages interested candidates to apply through its careers portal at Playactivate.au/careers.
