The Void

About The Void

The Void positioned itself as a premier destination for immersive, location-based virtual reality, a concept it termed "hyper-reality." Founded in 2014 by Ken Bretschneider, Curtis Hickman, and James Jensen, the company emerged from an ambitious plan for a larger theme park. Bretschneider, having previously sold his internet security company, provided the initial entrepreneurial drive, while Hickman, a former stage magician and visual effects artist, brought a unique perspective on creating illusions and impossible experiences. The company's business model revolved around creating ticketed VR attractions in high-traffic retail and entertainment areas, such as malls and destination centers like those at Disney properties.

The Void's product was a multi-sensory experience that blended a virtual world, viewed through a custom headset, with physical stages. This combination allowed participants to physically walk through the environment, interact with objects, and feel effects like heat and wind, which were synchronized with the virtual simulation. This approach set it apart from at-home VR systems. The company's revenue was generated directly from ticket sales for these 15- to 30-minute experiences. A significant part of its strategy involved licensing high-profile intellectual property, leading to collaborations with major studios. This resulted in popular attractions based on franchises like *Star Wars*, *Ghostbusters*, Marvel's *Avengers*, and *Wreck-It Ralph*.

The company's first location opened in Utah in 2015, and a key milestone was its participation in the Disney Accelerator program in 2017, which solidified its partnership with Disney and led to installations at Disney parks. However, the business model faced significant challenges. High rental costs for premium locations, coupled with substantial IP licensing fees and development costs, placed pressure on profitability. In 2020, the operational and financial strain was severely exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing the closure of its locations. The company ultimately defaulted on a loan, leading to Disney terminating its licensing agreements. In late 2020, The Void's intellectual property was transferred to a holding company, VR Exit, LLC. Subsequently, the assets were acquired in 2021 by Hyper Reality Partners, a firm led by a former investor, Adrian Steckel, with some of the original creative team returning, signaling a potential relaunch.