Friendly Fire Set to Launch Expansion in the U.S.

Croatia-based gaming cafe company Friendly Fire announced plans to expand into the United States, starting with franchises in Texas and Florida. However, no specific timeline for the opening of these new locations has been provided.

This announcement comes on the heels of retired League of Legends pro player Luka “Perkz” Perkovic joining Friendly Fire’s ownership group in early December.

Friendly Fire boasts over 200 franchises in various stages of development across the UK, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain. The average investment to open a Friendly Fire franchise, which includes a franchise fee of $49,500 USD, ranges from approximately $218,400 to $390,685. This investment typically covers a 1,500 square foot facility equipped with around 50 gaming stations.

The company views this expansion as a significant step in its growth journey.

“This announcement marks a defining moment for Friendly Fire. Our expansion into the U.S. reflects both the strength of our franchise model and our commitment to building socially engaging spaces for gamers around the world,” stated founder and CEO David Kosir. “We are all social beings. People want to play together. Playing games alone at home feels empty. Social gaming is the core of Friendly Fire, and we have proven many times over that the demand for this concept is huge. The market is wide open and we’re here to fill it.”

Since launching its franchise model in 2022, Friendly Fire has successfully opened 20 cafes across Europe.

While several attempts have been made to establish gaming cafes in the United States, many have struggled to achieve lasting success. Notable failures include Belong Gaming Arenas, Nerd Street (which shifted its focus to the collegiate market), and GameWorks, among others.