Activate, the Canadian-founded live-action gaming experience, has announced the opening of two new venues in Norway and Sweden as part of its ongoing Nordic expansion. The locations, developed in partnership with Scandinavian real estate and investment firm Realinvest, bring the company’s RFID-powered interactive gaming concept to Oslo and Gothenburg.
The Oslo venue is situated in the Snøbyen district, spanning 798 square metres across nine immersive game rooms with more than 800 interactive challenges. The Gothenburg location occupies 733 square metres within the Nordstan Shopping Centre, also featuring nine game rooms. Both sites include fan-favourite experiences such as Mega Grid, Laser and Hide.
At the heart of the Activate experience is HF RFID technology operating at 13.56 MHz. Each player is issued a silicone RFID wristband based on MIFARE 1 technology. The wristband serves as the player’s identity throughout the session, storing 90 minutes of game credits and tracking scores and progress in real time. Players scan their wristband at the start and end of each challenge, with results tallied instantly across leaderboards and an online portal. The system also recommends challenges based on past performance, adding a layer of personalisation to the experience.
The RFID infrastructure extends beyond gameplay. Venues use RFID-enabled locker systems, allowing players to secure their belongings with the same wristband they use on the game floor. Player profiles are created at registration, linking wristband data to individual accounts where badges, rewards and escalating prizes encourage repeat visits.
Håvard Olstad, CEO of Activate Games Scandinavia, said the reception across the Nordics has been overwhelmingly positive. “So far all our opening weekends have been fully booked and the feedback from our guests has been nothing short of amazing,” he said.
The two new openings follow the successful launch of Activate’s Helsinki, Finland location last month. The company now operates more than 70 locations worldwide and is on track to open 30 more in 2026. Five of those will be developed with Realinvest across the Nordic region, with Stockholm, Copenhagen and Bergen among the planned sites.
Founded in 2019, Activate has built its model around combining physical activity with technology-driven gamification. The use of RFID wristbands as the central interface for scoring, access and personalisation demonstrates how HF RFID can elevate entertainment experiences, turning a simple visit into a connected, data-rich session that keeps players coming back.