The Sandbox has announced a partnership with Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group to collaborate in The Sandbox’s digital entertainment “metaverse.”
The companies will collaborate on the upcoming metaverse season and reimagine the brand’s performances in two new interactive games. This collaboration brings Cirque’s signature emotion and artistry into the digital world through new immersive formats and creative tools for players and creators alike.
Key highlights of the new season include Cirque du Soleil’s participation; two immersive experiences based on Cirque’s Luzia and Big Apple shows; themed digital collectibles usable in gameplay and across the broader platform; Cirque-branded assets available for the creator community to design custom UGC experiences; and full reveal and panel discussion happening during NFT.NYC.
Arthur Madrid, CEO of The Sandbox, said in a statement, “Cirque du Soleil has constantly redefined live entertainment through imagination and emotion, and we’re thrilled to welcome them into The Sandbox to bring that spirit into the metaverse. This collaboration allows us to explore new forms of immersive storytelling to deliver the thrill of live spectacle in an interactive format, true to the energy of a theater experience.”
Noah Lemieux Bernier, vice president at Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, said in a statement, “We’ve explored digital storytelling before, but this collaboration with The Sandbox opens up new creative avenues.”
Lemieux Bernie added, “It enables us to bring the awe and artistry of our performances into immersive virtual spaces, fostering emotional connections with both longtime fans and new audiences in a format that’s interactive, social, and playful. It’s all part of our ambition to bring Cirque du Soleil into fans’ lives from showtime to all the time, with customer experience at the core.”
The collaboration will see Cirque du Soleil headline the upcoming Alpha Season 6 in The Sandbox, transporting players into imaginative worlds inspired by its theatrical legacy.
As part of this collaboration, players will step into interactive games, known as Experiences, based on two of Cirque du Soleil’s celebrated shows, Luzia and a second show yet to be revealed. Reflecting the grandeur, vibrancy, and emotion of a live Cirque performance, these experiences will blend narrative and spectacle in ways only possible through The Sandbox’s unique metaverse gameplay.
The collaboration will also introduce a series of limited-edition themed digital collectibles and avatars that can be used in-game throughout The Sandbox.
In addition to the experiences, The Sandbox will be releasing Cirque du Soleil-branded assets for its creator community to utilize in building their own user-generated content, unlocking new creative possibilities for experiences designed by end-users inspired by the artistry and energy of Cirque.