Escapologic Have Collaborated with Warhammer to Create the World’s First Warhammer 40,000 Live-Action Escape Room

As two of the biggest entertainment companies in their respective fields, Games Workshop and Escapologic have both made huge contributions to putting Nottingham firmly on the gaming map. The former has grown exponentially since its establishment over forty years ago, establishing a world-recognised brand that carrier a market capitilisation of more than £1bn, while the latter has consistently pushed the boundaries of immersive, real-life entertainment experiences, creating a host of innovative escape rooms that draw enthusiasts from the world over. 

Together, the two gaming monoliths have combined to create Immaterium, the world’s first official Warhammer 40,000 live-action escape room in Nottingham. Inspired by books, games and miniatures of the world-renowned fantasy universe, the experience promises to bring the raw emotion of Warpspace to life, taking the excitement of tabletop gaming to another level by physically plunging players into an elaborately detailed rogue trader ship heading towards a warp storm. 

“Think real challenges, real stakes and real tension,” Simon Stokes, Escapologic’s CEO and Key Master says, “We’ve worked very closely with Games Workshop to create a totally immersive experience that we are confident will chime with the experiences and expectations of a passionately devoted fanbase.” 

Immaterium represents the next phase of expansion for Games Workshop, with the juggernaut success of the world-recognised Warhammer brand continuing to flourish year after year. With the British high street continuing to suffer a series of high-profile struggles in recent times – including the collapse of House of Fraser, and major chains like Jack Wills, Patisserie Valerie and Debenhams all entering administration – Games Workshop continue to buck the trend. In 2017, the publicly traded British stock outperformed all others, spurred on by the seemingly endless appeal of Warhammer 40,000, an extensive tabletop conflict game in which two players fight with armies made up of collectible miniature figurines. 

The same can be said of Escapologic, who have led the way in establishing Nottingham as one of the best escape room cities in the UK. Under the leadership of Stokes, their innovative, richly detailed rooms continue to earn praise from a wide-range of sources, including frequently being named in the top-three spots on lists of the UK’s best escape rooms. 

With over 1,500 rooms currently in operation in the UK, escape rooms have  quickly moved from being a niche live-action experience hybrid to a mainstream staple on Britain’s entertainment scene. Last year even saw Red Bull, a brand more commonly associated with extreme sports, stage the Escape Room World Championships in London, which saw four-strong teams from 23 different countries compete to be crowned victorious. Other popular entertainment franchises have seized on to the surge in popularity, with Doctor Who rooms being built in six locations across the UK, and an official BBC Sherlock escape room, featuring original footage from the show’s acting talent, opening in London at the end of 2018. 

While official figures are elusive, it’s been estimated that there are up to 175,000 active or semi-active Warhammer players currently in the world, with another 750,000 playing every once in a while which, when coupled with the growing popularity of escape rooms, suggests that Nottingham may be host to the next big thing in entertainment. “Fans can look forward to intricately designed areas that interconnect in ingenious ways,” Stokes says, “And fiendishly challenging puzzles, games and codes. That’s all I’m saying for now – we don’t want to give the whole game away!”

Immaterium: A Warhammer Escape Room is scheduled to open at Escapologic in April 2020

Escapologic, 21-23 Castle Gate, Nottingham, NG1 7AQ

escapologic.com

games-workshop.com