With more than 39 percent growth in 2018 and 1,696 systems installed worldwide, according to UNIC, immersive seating has proven to be much more than a mere fad. But much of the growth has been concentrated in emerging markets where the construction of new theaters—and the race to differentiate through premium enhancements—is booming.
The pace has been somewhat slower in Europe. Opening its first screen in the Netherlands in 2010, D-Box was the first player to enter the European market and has now expanded to 200 screens and 13 countries. Two years later, CJ 4DPLEX opened four 4DX theaters with Cineworld Cinemas in Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic. With more than 141 European locations in 24 countries—which constitute 33 percent of all 4DX auditoriums worldwide—4DX has established the strongest presence in the market. Arriving later in the game, MX4D invested in Europe for the first time in 2017 via a partnership with Cineplexx in Croatia. More recently, local players such as Finland’s Flexound Augmented Audio, which uses audio vibrations to add the sensation of touch, have also emerged amid foreign giants.
Source: Rocking the Old Continent: Immersive Seating in Europe Faces Unique Challenges – Boxoffice