AI-Powered Family Gaming Center Opens In Pleasanton

PLEASANTON, CA — Whether you’d like to battle an alien invasion or catch flying gems in a magical cave, you don’t have to travel far: just head to Vunsh, a new family entertainment center offering AI-powered games that encourage physical activity.

“The mission behind Vunsh is threefold,” said founder and Pleasanton resident Nishit Rathod. “Provide exciting, active ways to have fun for families, friends, and teams; be a venue that brings people together and helps combat the global loneliness epidemic, and employ a human-centric approach to everything we do, including how AI is used.”

Vunsh, which opened late last month at 4125 Mohr Avenue in Pleasanton, is named after the Sanskrit word for “family,” because the center aims to bring people together through its engrossing games.

Rathod is an entrepreneur who has worked on projects that included building products and services for nonprofits and a collaboration with the U.S. Army and Air Force for protecting brain health.

“As AI started encroaching on the creative work that humans do in the last few years, the question that I asked myself is: What is it that I could do using AI that I’d have fun building while also making a positive impact on the society?” he wrote. “As a father of 2 active boys and with the problems I had experienced at the various family entertainment centers over the last decade, the idea behind Vunsh started taking shape.”

Currently, groups can play four AI-powered games displayed on ten-feet wide screens:

• Astro Battles: Grab a ball and destroy enemy alien spaceships before they attack.
• Rebound Paddle: A futuristic take on pickleball in which participants slam balls against a giant digital wall and try to hit active power zones.
• Super Kicks: An interactive soccer game in which participants try to hit moving targets.
• Treasure Archer: Collect the most gems flying through a magical cave using a bow and arrow.

Rathod noted that many more games are being developed, and he hopes to enter a larger space sometime next year. The current space offers two game pods, a dining area, and a waiting room. It is large enough to host up to 25 guests and 12 game participants.

Currently, Vunsh only takes reservations. New guests can take advantage of a free 30-minute session by going to the website and entering their email address to sign up for the newsletter when the popup appears. They’ll then be emailed instructions for how to get the free session.

Pods normally cost $49 for 55 minutes of play-time with four players, $69 for 85 minutes and 6 players, or $89 for 115 minutes and 6 players.

Visit myvunsh.com for information.