At Laval Virtual, Univrse will be presenting its XRoam solution, designed to improve the deployment and management of LBVR experiences in arcades.
Crédits photos : Univrse
Founded in Barcelona in 2022, Univrse operates in locatio-based virtual reality sector. It provides VR arcades with a solution for easy-to-operate multi-user experiences and high-quality content. Univrse will be presenting its world-exclusive XRoam platform for the first time at Laval Virtual, on April 9-11, 2025. We spoke to Frédéric Sanz, co-founder and COO.
Can you tell us more about your company?
Univrse is a Barcelona-based company founded in 2022, dedicated to the production and distribution of LBVR experiences. Through Xroam, it also focuses on the development and commercialization of solutions for the LBVR ecosystem (content creators, operators, end users, etc.).
In just three years, Univrse has become a key player in the LBVR sector, both for the number of experiences produced (Dalí, Tutankhamon, Pompeii, Jules Verne, Tomorrowland, FC Barcelona, etc) and for surpassing 3 million viewers across four continents.
What will you exhibit at Laval Virtual?
Univrse was born with the goal of pushing the boundaries of creativity and technology in LBVR while helping to democratize this sector. However, we knew from the start that, to achieve this, the entire ecosystem—from content creators to venue operators—needed effective tools to seamlessly develop, deploy, and operate these kinds of experiences.
That’s why we developed Xroam, an all-in-one solution that meets all the needs of this industry. Being both a studio and a developer of solutions has made Univrse the first client of Xroam. As a result, its tools (Unity SDK, Experience Manager System) have been rigorously tested in the creation of dozens of content pieces and in nearly a hundred operations. We couldn’t imagine a better stage than Laval for the world premiere of Xroam and to gauge the interest of the entire LBVR industry.
What is your company’s current innovation?
XRoam represents our core innovation, designed to address multiple technical challenges and focuses on providing a scalable end-to-end solution that transforms how immersive experiences are created, deployed, and operated.
How is your solution transforming your business field?
The sector of Location-based VR has a huge growth potential but scaling it has been impossible—until now. Univrse unlocks a profitable and scalable model for immersive experiences by solving the core bottlenecks of the industry. With its proprietary Xroam software suite, Univrse enables rapid content creation, cost-effective deployments, frictionless distribution, and profitable operations, enabling large-scale adoption of LBVR.
An example: using Xroam, Grande Exhibitions and Univrse created the “Finding Vincent Van Gogh” experience in 3 months with 7 people, generating $20 per visitor and handling up to 800 daily attendees in just 1,800 sq. ft with just 3 location staff.
Another example: The Catalan government has launched an innovative LBVR educational project based on Xroam technology and content produced by Univrse (using Xroam). This initiative consists of itinerant LBVR experiences brought to schools across Catalonia, allowing students to connect with the region’s historical heritage.
The ease of operation provided by Xroam has been key to enabling the smooth execution of these popup installations. Additionally, Xroam has been crucial in developing high-quality interactive immersive experiences in record time.
Sustainability and the environment are key topics of this century. How do you cope with these concerns in your XR technologies?
At Univrse, we firmly believe that immersive technologies can play a transformative role in promoting sustainability and environmental awareness. Our approach to integrating these concerns into our XR technologies is twofold.
First, we focus on reducing the carbon footprint of Location-Based Virtual Reality (LBVR) operations. Our Xroam platform enables wireless LBVR experiences, which eliminates the need for bulky external tracking systems and consequently lowers energy consumption. Additionally, Xroam supports remote content deployment and updates, significantly reducing the necessity for physical travel for maintenance and operational tasks.
Second, we harness XR as a powerful tool for environmental awareness. Immersive storytelling has the potential to foster deep emotional connections with environmental issues. A compelling example is the LBVR experience No Time, produced by Univrse and now part of a permanent installation at Lloret Castle in Spain. This experience is specifically designed to raise public awareness about the consequences of climate change. We also contribute to sustainable education through initiatives such as our partnership with the Catalan Government. This program brings immersive learning into schools, promoting awareness of cultural and environmental heritage without the need for expensive or carbon-intensive field trips.
