World's Favourite Games to Converge at Hub Zero

• Set to open in Q2 2016 at CITY WALK, Hub Zero to feature eight popular games from world-renowned game developers as well as a number of global first rides and attractions
• Hub Zero  to become leading destination for Middle East gaming community

Dubai-UAE: 7 April 2016 – Hub Zero, the region’s first immersive gaming theme park by Meraas, today announced that it will recreate eight world-renowned game titles into thrilling and innovative theme park rides and attractions, as well as utilizing the latest in cutting-edge virtual technologies to bring the first and only wireless VR experience to the Middle East.

The announcement was made on the first day of Hub Zero’s participation at the Middle East Film & Comic Con 2016 (MEFCC) that is currently underway at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Gaming fans do not have much longer to wait to experience some of the leading titles when the state-of-the-art indoor entertainment destination opens its doors next month.

Among the exhilarating rides and attractions based on world-leading IPs, Battlefield from Electronic Arts, Resident Evil from Capcom, and Gears of War from Microsoft will place gaming enthusiasts in the middle of the crossfire. Meanwhile, fans of Final Fantasy from Square Enix, Asura’s Wrath from Capcom and Dragon Age from Electronic Arts will gain a mesmerising glimpse into their fantasy worlds. For football enthusiasts, KONAMI will bring Pro Evolution Soccer to Hub Zero. A children’s play area themed around PopCap’s Plants vs Zombies will also vie for the attention of younger gamers.

As part of its participation in MEFCC 2016, Hub Zero is showcasing its state-of-the-art virtual reality gaming arena developed exclusively for Meraas by VRStudios. Time Zombies, a breakthrough in innovation in immersive VR gaming, is proving to be a crowd-puller at the Comic Con exhibition. This VR first-person shooter throws the daring into the middle of a horrifyingly life-like zombie apocalypse.

Jean Marc Bled, General Manager, Leisure & Entertainment at Meraas, said: “We are thrilled to participate in the fifth edition of the Middle East Film & Comic Con and reveal our IP line-up to the city’s enthusiastic audiences. When open, Hub Zero will offer visitors of all ages a fun-filled day out where they can relive some of their most thrilling fantasies. Furthermore, a large majority of the rides and attractions at Hub Zero are world firsts.”

He added: “The experiential entertainment at Hub Zero will challenge visitor perceptions and revolutionise how gamers see and experience video games. We are confident the stimulating and engaging journey will compel visitors to come back time after time.”

In the run up to the opening of Hub Zero in Q2 2016, Meraas has been working closely with global game developers since the concept’s inception. All IP holders such as Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Capcom, KONAMI, Square Enix, and PopCap have been involved from the initial stages in conceptualising and integrating their best gaming offerings into the ground-breaking immersive experience that Hub Zero is set to deliver.

Taking shape at CITY WALK, an urban living destination in Dubai, the 15,000 square metre park will emerge as a state-of-the-art indoor entertainment park that comprises an extensive e-Sports LAN gaming zone and a children’s play area, in addition to event rooms, retail space, and food and beverage offerings.

With its unique attractions that are complemented by a calendar of exciting events and tournaments, Hub Zero is certain to appeal to gamers and non-gamers alike. As the first destination of its kind in the region, the immersive entertainment park is set to emerge as the definitive, must-visit attraction for the Middle Eastern gaming community – including children, teenagers and families, both visitors and residents.