By Gary Symons
TLL Editor in Chief
Player One Amusement Group has just opened the first-ever emojiPlanet entertainment venue, located in Tsawassen, British Columbia.
The new facility is located in the Tsawwassen Mills facility, a major shopping centre a short drive from the Canadian port city Vancouver. The venue, located at 5000 Canoe Pass Way, is developed in a licensed collaboration with the emoji company GmbH, owner of the globally registered emoji brand, and UNIS, a long-standing producer of licensed emoji arcade machines.
“emojiPlanet was created to bring joy, color, and connection to our communities,” said Michael Williams, Marketing Director at Player One Amusement Group. “We are genuinely honoured to work so closely with the emoji company and UNIS. Without the strength and global influence of the emoji brand, this type of venue simply wouldn’t be possible. It’s an iconic brand with a decade-long legacy, and being able to bring it to life in a physical, immersive way is incredibly exciting.”
Marco Huesges, CEO and Creator of the emoji® brand, says this is the first step in emoji’s move into the location-based entertainment market.
“For more than ten years, the emoji brand has been part of consumers’ everyday lives across thousands of products, digital platforms, and cultural moments worldwide,” Huesges said. “Bringing the brand into a fully immersive environment where guests can touch, feel, and interact with our emoji® brand characters is a natural evolution of our global strategy.”
The venue integrates licensed emoji brand elements into a physical entertainment environment, featuring emoji-themed arcade attractions, a branded prize shop, interactive play areas, and designated party rooms for group events and celebrations.
The arcade experience is anchored by a lineup of emojiPlanet arcade machines developed and manufactured by UNIS under official license from the emoji company. These machines incorporate licensed emoji brand characters and visual elements and are designed specifically for use in family entertainment and arcade settings.
The opening of emojiPlanet marks a strategic extension of the emoji brand, which is currently active across consumer products, digital platforms, entertainment, retail, and media in more than 100 countries worldwide. The LBE format allows guests to engage with the brand through interactive and immersive experiences in a physical venue.
The official grand opening of emojiPlanet is scheduled for January 24, 2026. The opening event will include public activities and promotional offerings. Media representatives, influencers, and members of the public are expected to attend.
Player One Amusement Group operates arcade and family entertainment venues across North America and works with international intellectual property owners to develop licensed entertainment concepts. The emoji company GmbH is the creator and global rights holder of the emoji brand. UNIS is an international manufacturer of arcade machines and LBE equipment, producing licensed games in partnership with major intellectual property owners.