F1 Arcade fascinates me.
As a child of the ’80s, I grew up in arcades and Chuck E. Cheese, where I bathed in games and what barely qualifies as “pizza” (that aroma may also be why girls stayed away from me until ours closed). For my generation, gaming was never something you did by yourself — it was communal. We played together at arcades, at pizza parlors, at the 7-Eleven. We played together at home, sitting too close to the TV.
And damn, I miss it.
F1 Arcade isn’t replicating that experience. Nowhere really can. Dave & Busters and Round One try, but they’re missing something more than that mediocre pizza. “Barcades” don’t have a national presence yet, and gaming cafes are more about playing high-end PC games with people online, not in-person. F1 Arcade is attempting to merge a fun night out with the excitement of F1 racing, and it’s using video game-like simulators (featuring custom F1 overlays, ultrawide screens and stations that simulate motion thanks to platforms full of neat gadgets)to pull it off in a way no other sports entity has done before. It has outposts in Boston, D.C. and Philadelphia in the U.S., with future arcades coming to Las Vegas, Atlanta and Denver.
A little more than a year after its U.S. launch in Boston, I chatted with F1 Arcade CTO Gavin Williams. These are the highlights, edited lightly for clarity and length.
F1 Arcade isn’t like a Dave & Busters or a Round One, but it’s also not like a barcade or gaming cafe. What’s its lane?
Williams: “F1 Arcade sits in a unique lane that we’ve deliberately created by fusing the thrill of world-class racing simulation with premium hospitality. Unlike traditional gaming cafés, which are built around high-volume use, or barcades that lean into nostalgia and casual play, F1 Arcade is a purpose-built, experience-led destination. … But beyond the tech, what truly sets us apart is the environment: vibrant, design-forward spaces where guests come for entertainment, social connection and elevated food and drink. Think of it as competitive socializing meets next-gen sport simulation, all wrapped in the energy of a modern immersive entertainment destination.”
Does F1 Arcade plan on just focusing on sim-racing for F1, or is it considering adding more video game experiences?
Williams: “Our identity is deeply rooted in F1, and that’s very intentional. F1 Arcade is the world’s first official F1 racing experience, built through an exclusive global partnership with the sport. … Our simulators offer something you simply can’t find anywhere else, [allowing us] to deliver a truly authentic and premium racing experience that stands apart from typical sim racing or arcade gaming. That said, we’re constantly evolving how we enhance the guest experience. While we don’t plan to introduce traditional video games or generic bar games, we are exploring innovations that deepen the social and competitive racing elements, such as new game modes. Our focus is on staying true to the F1 Arcade brand while pushing the boundaries of what immersive, sport-driven entertainment can look like.”
How does F1 Arcade activate for F1 races?
Williams: “During race weekends, our venues become social hubs with F1 watch parties. We host themed activations, limited-edition menu drops and more. At our venues, our goal is to bring fans closer to the sport through shared, adrenaline-fueled moments.”
When it comes to expansion, does F1 Arcade plan on just adding more of the facilities it already has, or does it have any plans to have “outposts,” like sticking a F1 racing sim in a Dave & Buster’s or other sort of arcade-dining experience?
Williams: “Our focus is on expanding through full-scale F1 Arcade venues that preserve the integrity and quality of the experience. Each location is carefully designed to reflect our brand standards, from the simulator tech to the venue aesthetic to the hospitality offering. We do not have any plans on franchising or embedding our simulators in external concepts because F1 Arcade is more than a simulator. It’s an immersive experience, and to deliver that consistently, we believe in owning the end-to-end environment.”
