Video Games Live

What Video Games Live does

Video Games Live is a privately held touring concert series founded in 2002 by video game composers Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall under the parent entity Mystical Stone Entertainment, LLC. Operating from Los Angeles with 52 employees, the company produces immersive multimedia live performances in which local symphony orchestras and choirs play video game music synchronized to proprietary video footage, lighting, special effects, electronic percussion, and interactive audience segments drawn from a library of over 200 segments. The business is fundamentally event-driven: orchestras co-present and underwrite individual shows in their markets, and The ZAX Agency handles booking. Since its debut at the Hollywood Bowl on July 6, 2005 (11,000+ attendees, Guinness World Record), Video Games Live has performed 500+ shows across 42 countries on five continents, reaching over 2 million attendees, and has secured licensing relationships with major game publishers including Nintendo, Sony, Activision, EA, Ubisoft, Sega, Square Enix, Capcom, Konami, Bungie, and Harmonix.

The company monetizes through three primary streams: (1) live concert ticket sales at $20–$80 per ticket, with select venues as low as $1 and a separate Ultimate Gamer V.I.P. Experience package; (2) recorded music and video releases — 9 albums have debuted in the Billboard Top 10 and an award-winning DVD/Blu-Ray (LEVEL 2) was produced — plus a 2010 PBS special that aired in 90+ million U.S. homes; and (3) direct-to-consumer merchandise via an online store. Distribution runs through third-party ticketing platforms (Ticketmaster, SeeTickets, Eventim, Damai.cn in China, OvationTix), venue box offices, orchestra co-presenters, and convention channels (E3, Comic-Con, Gamescom, BlizzCon, GDC). Customer segments split between gaming enthusiasts, families and non-gamers, symphonic music lovers, and convention/event organizers.

Operationally the business is mature and stable rather than expansion-stage: the company has not disclosed funding, M&A, or material new partnerships since the 2016 Beijing Bird's Nest engagement and Gamescom 2016 Blizzard partnership, and founder Tommy Tallarico's 2018 transition to CEO of Intellivision signals a reduced single-leader operational focus. Active touring continues into 2026-2027, but growth investment, hiring, and product expansion signals are absent from the available evidence.

Name

Video Games Live

Legal name

Mystical Stone Entertainment, LLC

Website

https://videogameslive.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Video Games Live is a privately held touring concert series founded in 2002 that produces immersive multimedia performances of video game music with orchestras worldwide, monetizing through ticket sales, VIP packages, albums, and merchandise across 42 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Entertainment / Concert Production

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Sound Recording Studios (51224)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions) (MPAIAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hybrid Concerts & Live Shows (Venue + Remote Audience) (MPAGAOAE), Broadcast/Recording for Live Events (OB, Multicam, Livestream Capture) (MPAGAKAI), Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Live concert events
• Video game music
• Orchestral performances
• Immersive entertainment shows
• Concert production services

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Concert Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling tickets to live concert performances worldwide. Pricing varies by venue, orchestra, and location, typically ranging from $20 to $80 per ticket. Special V.I.P. Experience packages available at additional cost.
2. Album Sales: Sale of video game music albums. 9 albums released worldwide, all debuting in Billboard Top 10. Includes Video Games Live: Level 1-6 and special releases.
3. DVD/Blu-Ray Sales: Award-winning full-length feature DVD/Blu-Ray releases of concert performances
4. VIP Experience Packages: Premium backstage experience packages including laminated passes, pre-show presentations, exclusive merchandise, digital downloads, and front-of-line access to meet-and-greets

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Video Games Live produces and tours an immersive live concert event series featuring music from popular video games performed by top orchestras and choirs worldwide. The core offering combines live orchestral performances with synchronized video footage, lighting, special effects, solo performers, electronic percussion, and interactive audience segments at venues across 42+ countries. Supplementary offerings include a series of Billboard-charting live albums, a PBS special, DVD/Blu-Ray releases, premium VIP experience packages, and branded merchandise.

Product overview

Video Games Live is a live concert event series featuring video game music performed by orchestras and choirs worldwide, supplemented by album releases (LEVEL album series), a PBS special and DVD/Blu-Ray (LEVEL 2), an online merchandise store, and premium VIP experience packages. The core product is the concert experience, with add-on offerings including free meet & greets, costume contests, and a V.I.P. backstage experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Video Games Live Concert Experience Immersive concert event featuring music from the most popular video games of all time, performed by top orchestras and choirs with synchronized video footage, lighting, solo performers, and interactive segments. Targeted at gaming enthusiasts, families, and symphonic music lovers.
• Video Games Live Album Series (LEVEL Albums) Multiple album releases featuring live performances of video game music, all debuting in the Billboard Top 10, including LEVEL 1-6 and special releases.
• PBS Special / LEVEL 2 DVD-Blu-Ray Award-winning full-length feature DVD/Blu-Ray and PBS television special of Video Games Live concert performances.
• Ultimate Gamer V.I.P. Experience Package

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2 million people have experienced Video Games Live live
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Los Angeles PhilharmoniccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 July 2005Primary orchestral partner for the debut performance at Hollywood Bowl on July 6, 2005. Over 11,000 attendees made it the largest video game concert in history at that time.
• Philharmonia Orchestra (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVideo Games Live was the FIRST and ONLY show to sell out the Royal Festival Hall (Philharmonia Orchestra) since refurbishment in 2007.
• House of BluesmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor concert venue chain partner hosting Video Games Live performances at their venues.
• E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerConvention partner for E3 Expo - one of the world's premier gaming industry events.
• Blizzard EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConvention partner and Publisher/Developer Affiliate. VGL performed Blizzard concert at Gamescom 2016 with 17,000 live audience members featuring World of Warcraft, Starcraft II, Diablo III, Overwatch, and Hearthstone music.
• WonderConminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConvention partner for WonderCon comic book and pop culture convention.
• Comic-Con InternationalmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerConvention partner for San Diego Comic-Con - one of the largest entertainment conventions.
• The ZAX AgencymajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial booking agency for Video Games Live performances.
• ActivisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublisher Affiliate partner providing licensing for game music including Guitar Hero franchise.
• Electronic Arts (EA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublisher Affiliate partner providing licensing for game music from EA titles.
• UbisoftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublisher Affiliate partner providing licensing for game music from Ubisoft titles.
• SonycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublisher/Developer Affiliate partner providing licensing for game music including PlayStation titles.
• SegacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublisher/Developer Affiliate partner providing licensing for Sonic and other Sega franchise music.
• Square EnixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublisher/Developer Affiliate partner providing licensing for Final Fantasy and other Square Enix titles.
• NintendocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublisher/Developer Affiliate partner providing licensing for Mario, Zelda, and other Nintendo franchise music.
• CapcomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublisher/Developer Affiliate partner providing licensing for Street Fighter and other Capcom titles.
• KonamicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublisher/Developer Affiliate partner providing licensing for Metal Gear Solid and other Konami titles.
• BungiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublisher/Developer Affiliate partner providing licensing for Halo franchise music.
• HarmonixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublisher/Developer Affiliate partner providing licensing for Guitar Hero franchise music.
• PBScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBroadcast partner for Video Games Live national television special in 2010. Aired in over 90 million homes and became one of the top rated PBS Specials of all time.
• Game Developers Conference (GDC)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerConvention partner for GDC - the premier professional game developers conference.
• GamescommajorGTM or Marketing PartnerConvention partner for Gamescom - Europe's largest gaming convention.
• 50+ Symphony Orchestras WorldwidecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSymphony affiliates include Houston Symphony, Dallas Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Sydney Symphony, Beijing Opera Orchestra, and many more. These orchestras co-present VGL shows in their markets.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Emerging players

• The 8-Bit Big Band: New York-based jazz orchestra that re-arranges video game music into big band performances. Operates on a smaller scale but represents the growing trend of curated video game music concerts that could compete for VGL's audience.
• Video Game Orchestra (Boston): Boston-based concert series performing orchestral arrangements of video game music. A smaller-scale direct competitor that demonstrates the model is replicable by regional ensembles.

Direct peers

• Eminence Symphony Orchestra: Australian-based symphony orchestra that performs video game, anime, and film music concerts globally. Same core value proposition (orbital game music live), competing for the same niche audience and orchestra partnership model.
• Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy: Long-running touring concert series performing video game music (specifically Final Fantasy) with full symphony orchestras. Directly competes for the same audience, venues, and publisher licensing relationships as Video Games Live.

Broad incumbents

• Cirque du Soleil: Premium touring live entertainment spectacle with similar multi-element production (live performance, music, visual, lighting, immersive staging). Comparable as a high-end touring experiential entertainment business model.
• Live Nation Entertainment: World's largest live entertainment promoter and venue operator. Not a direct competitor on content, but VGL's distribution partner (tickets go through Ticketmaster, owned by Live Nation) and the dominant scale player in the same touring concert market.
• Blue Man Group: Long-running touring live entertainment property combining music, visual spectacle, and audience interaction. Comparable as a premium experiential entertainment IP with similar touring economics.
• Disney Concert Hall Programming / Disney in Concert: Established orchestral concert IP-based touring programs (e.g., Disney in Concert, Studio Ghibli concerts) that operate at similar venues with the same live-plus-synchronized-visual format. Represents the broader orchestral-IP-concert category VGL belongs to.

Regional players

• Awesome Music Fest / Video Game Music Festivals: Music and Gaming Festival (MAGFest) and similar conventions feature video game music performances as part of broader gaming-music programs. They create alternative live venues for VGL's audience and compete for the gaming-music fan's entertainment spend.

Others

• Mondo / Waxwork Records (Vinyl Soundtrack Labels): Specialty vinyl and soundtrack labels that release video game music in physical formats. Adjacent rather than competitive; they represent the consumer-product ecosystem that markets VGL's same audience and could be a licensing or distribution partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/results?search_query=Video+Games+Live
• Facebookfacebook.com/VidGamesLive
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/video-games-live

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Video Games Live