In October, we ran a month-long live play-test for The Beacon at the Russell Industrial Center in Detroit. The game was called Borderland, directly inspired by Netflix's AIB.

THE BORDERLAND PLAYTEST

Borderland was a hyperlocal, real-world survival tournament. Players competed in live challenges to extend their "Visa ⏳", their right to remain in the game. Every 3 days, players had to complete at least 1 game or they were automatically eliminated. Visa countdowns were visible publicly, and players received warnings before expiration.

HOW THE GAME WORKED

Each day, different Arenas activated, offering 3 types of games:

Game Types

• 🕹️ Solo Games: Individual missions or 1-on-1 challenges against a "Borderland Citizen"
• ⚔️ Versus Games: Head-to-head competition where only some survived
• 🤝 Group Games: Team-based trials where everyone lived or everyone was eliminated

As the month came to a close, a final arena activated. Remaining players entered a last-player-standing Versus Game. 1 champion emerged.

WHAT STOOD OUT

What stood out wasn't just the gameplay, but the stories. "Near-death moments", psychological strategy, funny failures, and genuinely human connections between strangers. The game evolved as players learned how to play it together.

That experiment led directly to The Beacon - a public platform for Hyperlocal Live Games, real-world gaming experiences where cities, neighborhoods, and everyday spaces become the arena. Instead of screens separating people, Beacon connects players face-to-face through live challenges powered by simple digital systems.

THE BEACON PLATFORM

Hyperlocal Live Gaming means games that:

Hyperlocal Live Gaming

• Happen in real locations like parks, cafés, rooftops, and warehouses
• Sync players and events live in real time
• Are community-driven and locally hosted

Think of it as the intersection of gaming, events, and urban exploration.

The Beacon is being built as a public platform. If you have a live game or real-world experience you want to share, we want it on Beacon. One might compare it to itch.io, but for live gaming. The goal is to make publishing, hosting, and replicating IRL games as frictionless as possible for anyone.

BLOCKBUSTER GAMES

Alongside creator-built games, we're also planning to produce official Beacon "Blockbuster" Games twice a year. These will set the standard and provide templates others can replicate in their own communities.

BORDERLAND | SUMMER 2026

The first is already in planning. Borderland | Summer 2026

For this edition, Borderland is being designed as a tightly curated 4-hour live experience, distilling the most powerful moments of the month-long playtest into a single, high-impact event.

GET INVOLVED

Currently looking for volunteers, game designers, sound and lighting designers, keepsake creators, food and drink vendors, and interns in social media marketing and game development.

Learn more about Borderland or reach out via the inquiries page at TheBeaconHQ.com.

We need more real-world play.