CityLights
CityLights is a Los Angeles-based immersive content studio founded in 2018 that produces, finances, and distributes premium VR, AR, and XR experiences to consumer app stores and exhibition partners worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What CityLights does
CityLights is a Los Angeles-based immersive content studio founded in 2018 that produces, finances, and distributes premium VR, AR, and XR experiences. The company's core technology centers on XR filmmaking using photogrammetry and volumetric capture, with interactive features including hand tracking, voice recognition, and audio-driven narrative mechanics. Its product portfolio spans cinematic VR experiences (Spheres, Tutankhamun: Enter the Tomb, Experience Yosemite), interactive VR games (MVP Football: The Patrick Mahomes Experience, Area Man Lives), and exhibition-licensed immersive content (Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience).
The company operates a hybrid business model combining three revenue streams: direct-to-consumer one-time license sales through app stores (Meta Quest, Steam VR, Pico VR, HTC VIVE), licensing and exhibition royalties for venues and tours (IMG, Saatchi Gallery, Wonderspaces, Rockefeller Center), and content financing and co-production services for third-party VR/AR/XR creators. Customers include consumer VR enthusiasts purchasing titles through app stores and enterprise partners such as museums, cultural institutions, and exhibition operators. Talent relationships with figures including Darren Aronofsky, Bryan Cranston, Hugh Bonneville, and Patrick Mahomes anchor individual projects, and the firm has accumulated more than 20 international film festival recognitions since 2018.
CityLights is privately held and founder-controlled, co-founded by David Ganek (Partner, formerly of Level Global Investors) and Joel Newton (Director and Producer, formerly co-founder of The Virtual Reality Company). The company operates from a single Los Angeles headquarters with approximately 49 employees, supported by a broad partner ecosystem spanning platform distributors (Meta, Steam/Valve), strategic co-developers (National Geographic Society, NASA), and venue/distribution partners across global exhibition markets.
CityLights firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CityLights
- Legal name
- CityLights
- Website
- https://citylightsvr.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CityLights is a Los Angeles-based immersive content studio founded in 2018 that produces, finances, and distributes premium VR, AR, and XR experiences to consumer app stores and exhibition partners worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CityLights industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Immersive VR Content Production
- NAICS
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- VR/AR/XR Game Studios (MPAFAAAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Interactive & Immersive Content Production (AR/VR/3D) (BPAFAIAL), VR/AR Game Publishing & Distribution (MPAFABAK), VR & Immersive Esports/LBE Venues (VR Arenas, Sim Racing Pods) (MPAFALAE)
Keywords
Where CityLights is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
CityLights business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct Consumer Sales (App Store): VR experiences sold directly to consumers through Meta Quest and Steam platforms
- Exhibition and Immersive Experience Licensing: Licensing VR experiences for exhibition tours such as Beyond King Tut immersive experience and VR Theater accompanying National Geographic co-produced shows
- Content Financing and Co-production: CityLights finances and co-produces VR/AR/XR projects, acquiring content for distribution (e.g., acquired Spheres at Sundance for seven figures)
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
CityLights product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CityLights is an immersive content studio that finances, produces, and distributes premium VR, AR, and XR experiences for global audiences. Its portfolio includes original VR cinematic experiences (Spheres, Tutankhamun: Enter The Tomb, Experience Yosemite) and interactive VR games (MVP Football: The Patrick Mahomes Experience, Area Man Lives), distributed directly to consumers via Meta Quest and Steam and licensed to museums, galleries, and exhibition partners worldwide.
Product overview
CityLights is a pioneer in premium immersive VR/AR content, focusing on financing and distributing VR and AR experiences globally. The company operates at the intersection of technology and storytelling, delivering experiences that only virtual reality can provide. Their portfolio includes Spheres (a VR space exploration experience), Tutankhamun: Enter The Tomb (an Egyptian tomb exploration), Experience Yosemite (a national park VR documentary), MVP Football: The Patrick Mahomes Experience (a sports VR game), and Area Man Lives (a voice-interactive VR mystery). Beyond standalone VR experiences, CityLights also partners on immersive exhibitions like Beyond King Tut and provides financing and distribution services for third-party VR/AR/XR projects.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Spheres A three-part immersive VR experience taking viewers on a journey through space to discover the hidden songs of the cosmos, featuring hand tracking and light interactivity. Executive produced by Darren Aronofsky and narrated by Millie Bobby Brown, Jessica Chastain, and Patti Smith. Distributed on Meta Quest.
- Tutankhamun: Enter The Tomb An 8-minute immersive VR experience featuring a photorealistic recreation of the tomb of Tutankhamun as it was discovered 100 years ago. Narrated by Hugh Bonneville. Licensed to exhibitions including the Beyond King Tut North American tour in partnership with National Geographic Society.
- Experience Yosemite A cinematic VR experience narrated by Bryan Cranston that details Yosemite National Park's history and landmarks, built with cutting-edge photogrammetry produced using advanced climbing and hiking techniques.
- MVP Football: The Patrick Mahomes Experience A VR football game available on Meta Quest where players experience being superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes through high school, college, and pro football, with motion controls for throwing, passing, and gameplay progression.
- Area Man Lives A quirky VR mystery game mixing comics and radio drama, featuring innovative voice recognition technology that lets players talk to characters using their own voice as a radio DJ. Starring Max Greenfield, Joel McHale, and Ronan Farrow. Available on Meta Quest and Steam.
Quantifiable outcome
- First seven-figure VR deal at Sundance Film Festival 2018
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use CityLights
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CityLights technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature3 records
CityLights partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Darren AronofskycoreExecutive producer of Spheres VR series. CityLights acquired Spheres at Sundance 2018 in a seven-figure deal. Aronofsky also executive producer of The Martian VR Experience.
- National Geographic SocietycorePartnership for Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience commemorating the 100th anniversary of King Tut's tomb discovery. Co-produced with National Geographic for North American exhibition tour.
- Free Range GamescoreCo-production partner for MVP Football: The Patrick Mahomes Experience VR game.
- Numinous GamescorePartnered with Numinous Games to bring Area Man Lives to life.
- Cyan PublishingcorePartnered with Cyan Publishing to bring Area Man Lives to life.
- Meta/OculuscorePlatform distribution partner for Spheres, MVP Football, and Area Man Lives on Meta Quest and Meta Rift platforms.
- NASAminorPartner organization in VR content development.
- IMGcoreExhibition partner for Tutankhamun world tour including Saatchi Gallery premiere.
- Beyond King TutcoreVR experience partnered with Beyond King Tut immersive experience tour for North American cities.
- Saatchi GallerycoreVenue partner for Tutankhamun: Enter the Tomb world premiere in London, UK.
- Rockefeller CenterminorVenue partner for Spheres screening at Rockefeller Center.
- Yosemite National ParkcorePartner for Experience Yosemite VR project featuring photogrammetry of the national park.
- Sundance Film FestivalcoreFestival partner where CityLights acquired Spheres in 2018 and continues to premiere content.
- Venice Film FestivalcoreFestival partner where Spheres won Grand Prix in VR 2018.
- Cannes Film FestivalcoreFestival partner for Cannes XR recognition.
- Tishman SpeyerminorReal estate partner for venue/exhibition spaces.
- WonderspacesminorImmersive exhibition venue partner.
- DreamLandXRminorXR immersive experience venue partner.
- PerrotinminorGallery partner for immersive art experiences.
- Atlas VminorVR production and distribution partner.
- Sandman StudiosminorVR studio partner.
- ProtozoaminorProduction partner.
- Cyan IncminorPublisher partner for Area Man Lives.
- Paquin Entertainment GroupminorEntertainment distribution partner.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CityLights competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wevr: Wevr is a VR content and technology company producing immersive experiences and operating the Wevr VR network for distribution. Comparable to CityLights as a peer VR studio creating cinematic and interactive immersive content for multiple VR platforms.
- Atlas V: Atlas V is a VR/AR production and distribution studio producing and globally distributing immersive narrative experiences across platforms and exhibitions. Directly comparable to CityLights as a peer-level VR content producer/distributor with festival-circuit credibility and exhibition partnerships.
- Baobab Studios: Baobab Studios is an Emmy-winning VR animation studio producing premium immersive storytelling experiences distributed on Meta Quest and other platforms. Directly comparable as a premium-cinema VR studio competing in the same festival and consumer app store landscape.
- Within (Within Unlimited): Within is a VR content studio and former distribution platform (acquired by Meta) producing and curating immersive narrative experiences. Comparable to CityLights as both a VR content producer and as a content distribution counterpart, with overlapping festival-circuit presence.
- Felix & Paul Studios: Felix & Paul Studios is an immersive VR/AR content studio known for cinematic VR experiences, NASA and National Geographic partnerships, and exhibition-grade immersive productions (including space and nature documentaries). Closely comparable to CityLights in both creative ambition and institutional/exhibition distribution strategy.
- The Virtual Reality Company: The Virtual Reality Company is a VR/AR studio producing cinematic immersive experiences including The Martian VR Experience. Notably co-founded by Joel Newton, CityLights' co-founder, making it a closely related former entity in the same VR cinema niche.
Broad incumbents
- Meow Wolf: Meow Wolf operates large-scale immersive art exhibitions and experiences, including permanent locations in multiple US cities. Comparable to CityLights in the LBE/exhibition segment (Beyond King Tut tour), with much larger scale and operational footprint.
- Magnopus: Magnopus is a larger immersive content and technology studio producing VR/AR experiences, theme-park attractions, and location-based entertainment for major brands and institutions. Comparable to CityLights as a premium immersive content producer with broader service offerings across consumer and B2B.
- Dreamscape Immersive: Dreamscape Immersive is a location-based VR entertainment company operating VR cinemas and immersive venues in partnership with major studios. Comparable to CityLights in the VR exhibition/cinema segment with complementary venue-based distribution model.
Others
- Sandbox Immersive Festival: Sandbox Immersive Festival is a leading immersive content festival and ecosystem hub that showcases VR/AR/XR works including CityLights' titles. Comparable as an ecosystem player where CityLights premieres content and engages with industry peers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CityLights social profiles
Digital presenceCityLights financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CityLights leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
CityLights funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CityLights M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CityLights
What does CityLights do?
CityLights is an immersive content studio that finances, produces, and distributes premium VR, AR, and XR experiences for global audiences. Its portfolio includes original VR cinematic experiences (Spheres, Tutankhamun: Enter The Tomb, Experience Yosemite) and interactive VR games (MVP Football: The Patrick Mahomes Experience, Area Man Lives), distributed directly to consumers via Meta Quest and Steam and licensed to museums, galleries, and exhibition partners worldwide.
Is CityLights a public or private company?
CityLights is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CityLights founded?
CityLights was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CityLights based?
CityLights is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does CityLights make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct Consumer Sales (App Store) is the primary driver. The others are exhibition and Immersive Experience Licensing and content Financing and Co-production.
Who are CityLights's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wevr, Atlas V, Baobab Studios, Within (Within Unlimited), Felix & Paul Studios and The Virtual Reality Company. Broad incumbents are Meow Wolf, Magnopus and Dreamscape Immersive. Sandbox Immersive Festival is listed as an others.
Does CityLights have an API?
No public API is recorded for CityLights.
What industry is CityLights in?
CityLights's product category is Immersive VR Content Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAE, VR/AR/XR Game Studios, with a secondary code of BPAFAIAL, Interactive & Immersive Content Production (AR/VR/3D). Its NAICS code is 71 and its SIC code is 7990.