The Hologate franchise is a narrow case: Hologate mainly sells VR attraction systems such as HOLOGATE ARENA to existing venues, and its franchise concept, HOLOGATE World, has one publicly reported location, opened in Fürth, Germany, in 2021. Prices, fees and franchise terms are not publicly disclosed. Metaforce VR Arena is a free-roam team arena sold by subscription, with no franchise fee and no royalty; this page compares the two using public sources checked in October 2026.
We are Metaforce, so this comparison is not written by a neutral party. Every statement about Hologate below links to a public source, and where a figure is not public, we say so.
What is Hologate?
HOLOGATE is a German company founded in 2013 that describes itself as a leader in AI and extended reality. Its website reports 450+ XR systems installed, 28 million+ users and a presence in 50+ countries, with two divisions: Training & Simulation and Immersive Worlds (entertainment) [1]. For entertainment venues, the company says it has "sold hundreds of systems" across six continents [2].
The main entertainment products are [2][3]:
- HOLOGATE ARENA: a multiplayer VR system for up to 4 players on a 25 m² (270 sq ft) footprint, run by a single attendant.
- HOLOGATE BLITZ: a motion simulator for racing, flying and similar experiences.
Is there a Hologate franchise?
In February 2021 Hologate announced HOLOGATE World, a venue of more than 1,200 m² inside the FLAIR urban marketplace in Fürth, Germany, and called it a "blueprint for further franchise locations" [4]. The venue opened in September 2021 [5]. A law firm reported that it advised Hologate on setting up the franchise system [6].
In the public sources we checked, we found no further HOLOGATE World locations and no published franchise fee, royalty or investment range. The core business for venue owners, based on Hologate's own pages, is buying systems for an existing site rather than joining a franchise [2][3].
How much does Hologate cost?
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| HOLOGATE ARENA purchase price | Not publicly disclosed; distributors ask buyers to request a quote | [7] |
| Franchise fee (HOLOGATE World) | Not publicly disclosed | — |
| Royalty / revenue share | Not publicly disclosed | — |
| Content subscription or update fees | Not publicly disclosed | — |
| Price per game charged by operators | About $6–12 per game, according to Hologate | [3] |
| Game length | Most games about 5 minutes; about 40 players per hour | [3] |
What does a HOLOGATE ARENA need?
From Hologate's ARENA page [8]:
- Footprint: 5 × 5 m (17 × 17 ft) for the 4-player version; 5 × 2.5 m for the 2-player version.
- Clearance: 2.80 m (9.5 ft).
- Power: two 16 A fused lines for the 4-player version, plus internet.
- Staff: one trained attendant.
- Content: a game library of about 16–17 titles listed on the site, including licensed brands such as The Smurfs, Ghostbusters and Angry Birds [2][8]. Release cadence is not publicly disclosed.
Hologate vs Metaforce VR Arena: side by side
| Hologate | Metaforce VR Arena | |
|---|---|---|
| Business model | Sale of VR systems to venues; one franchise flagship (HOLOGATE World) [2][4] | Subscription for games and support |
| Format | Compact multiplayer station on a fixed footprint [8] | Free-roam team arena, players walk freely through one open play area |
| Players per game | Up to 4 (ARENA) [8] | 4–20 per game; 8 to 12 or more on one arena at once, depending on venue size |
| Session length | About 5 minutes per game [3] | Hourly play, whole-arena rental, parties, corporate events |
| Content | Library of about 16–17 titles, incl. licensed brands [2][8] | 5 in-house games (TeamForce, StarForce, Elevators, Portals, Mini Games), Zombies coming soon; no third-party licences |
| Content updates | Not publicly disclosed | New maps or games every 6 months, included |
| Entry fee | Not publicly disclosed | None |
| Ongoing payments | Not publicly disclosed | $4,990 / 6 months, $7,990 / 12 months, $14,990 / 24 months, then $799 per month, taxes included; no revenue share |
| Equipment | Supplied by Hologate as a system [8] | Buy from any supplier |
| Space | 25 m² per ARENA; HOLOGATE World 1,200 m²+ [4][8] | 50–300 m² play area; 100–700 m² total venue |
| Ceiling | 2.80 m clearance [8] | From 2.5 m |
| Network | 450+ systems installed, 50+ countries [1] | About 30 arenas in 4 countries |
Metaforce figures come from our own franchise terms. Hologate figures come from the sources listed below.
Which model fits which investor?
The two answer different briefs:
- Hologate suits an existing venue, such as an arcade, bowling centre or FEC, that wants to add a compact VR attraction with short sessions and high throughput on about 25 m².
- Metaforce VR Arena is a dedicated free-roam arena for one larger group per session, which can be a standalone business or an anchor attraction in a mall or FEC. You pay a fixed subscription for games and support; the venue, renovation and equipment are paid separately. When the subscription ends, access to the games stops.
Metaforce partners receive games adapted to their exact venue layout, launch support and staff training and a knowledge base, and a manager stays on hand. With the franchise package, partners also get a website, the network CRM and a marketing kit.
Compare the formats in more detail on free-roam VR and VR arena equipment, check the budget on franchise cost, or see all brands in our VR franchise comparison.
Apply now to discuss your city and venue with Metaforce VR Arena.
FAQ
Does Hologate offer a franchise?
Hologate announced a franchise concept, HOLOGATE World, and opened its flagship in Fürth, Germany, in 2021. We found no further franchise locations or published franchise terms in public sources.
How much does a HOLOGATE ARENA cost?
Not publicly disclosed. Hologate and its distributors provide prices on request.
How much space does a HOLOGATE ARENA need?
About 25 m² (5 × 5 m) for the 4-player version, with 2.80 m of clearance, according to Hologate.
How many players does Hologate support?
Up to 4 players per HOLOGATE ARENA session, with most games lasting about 5 minutes.
How is Metaforce VR Arena different?
Metaforce is a free-roam team arena with 4–20 players per game, sold by a published subscription with no franchise fee, royalty or marketing fee. Equipment can be bought from any supplier.
Sources
Checked October 2026. Figures about Hologate are taken from the sources below and may change; always confirm current terms with the company.
- HOLOGATE, official website: https://hologate.com/
- HOLOGATE, Entertainment (Immersive Worlds): https://www.hologate.com/entertainment/
- HOLOGATE, "How to choose the right VR option for your venue": https://hologate.com/how-to-choose-the-right-vr-option-for-your-venue
- Blooloop, "Hologate plans XR venue Hologate World" (9 February 2021): https://blooloop.com/play/news/hologate-plans-xr-venue-hologate-world/
- Amusement Today, "Hologate celebrates grand opening of immersive entertainment venue Hologate World" (September 2021): https://amusementtoday.com/2021/09/hologate-celebrates-grand-opening-of-immersive-entertainment-venue-hologate-world
- SKW Schwarz, "SKW Schwarz advises HOLOGATE": https://www.skwschwarz.de/en/details/skw-schwarz-advises-hologate
- Betson (distributor), HOLOGATE product page: https://www.betson.com/amusement-products/hologate/
- HOLOGATE, ARENA product page: https://www.hologate.com/arena