Netflix officially opened Netflix House Dallas late last year – a first of its kind, permanent entertainment venue where fans can interact with their favorite Netflix stories beyond the screen. One of the exciting feature experiences that debuted at Netflix House Dallas is Stranger Things: Face the Dark, a thrilling, immersive experience from Netflix that invites visitors to step into an episode of the iconic series.

Alterface provided the key interactive technology for the experience, supplying 560 devices designed to guide and immerse visitors in the story and environment. The company created devices with an 80s-inspired look, developed custom electronics, firmware, and software, and ensured seamless integration with the other technology vendors powering the attraction. The result is a system that responds dynamically to guests’ movement throughout the experiences, creating a truly personalized journey.

“With Stranger Things: Face the Dark, guests actually step into the world of Stranger Things and interact with the story in a way that feels natural and alive,” said Stéphane Battaille, CEO of Alterface. “It’s the kind of next-generation immersive experience we strive to create, where technology operates invisibly to support the story.”

The experience is set in Hawkins, Indiana following the events at the end of Season 4. Guests are joining search & rescue efforts to uncover the fate of missing citizens. Armed with a flashlight and headphones that feature binaural audio, they explore fan-favorite locations such as Castle Byers and Eddie Munson’s trailer, looking for clues and reacting to unexpected thrills. Guests move at their own pace, guided by light and sound, along with some live actors, while the story adapts to individual and group actions for a unique, immersive adventure.

Alterface’s role in the development of this experience was to provide the interactive devices (headsets and flashlights) and the systems that deliver each guest with a fully personalized audio and visual experience, while interfacing in real time with the experience’s other technology and scenic elements.

This was made possible through a customized geolocation system that tracks every visitor in real time throughout the experience, enabling audio and visual feedback to respond instantly to each guest’s actions and location. Guests quite literally hear what they see: when a visitor approaches a clue or event, only those nearby receive the corresponding sound, ensuring focus and immersion.

Building on this, the system continuously adapts the narrative to each visitor’s actions and location. If guests split up, the story follows them; if they move off the expected path, the narrative continues without interruption; and when groups regroup, storytelling synchronizes seamlessly. All of these adaptations happen without visible triggers, making the experience feel natural and responsive while managing dozens of guests simultaneously.

“It was a unique challenge to integrate a fast and precise geolocation system, customized to deliver a personalized show for each guest,” said Etienne Sainton, Product Manager at Alterface. “Thanks to our previous technology developments and the clear vision of every partner, this has become one of the most interesting and fun experiences we’ve had the opportunity to bring to life.”

Guests can book their tickets now for Stranger Things: Face the Dark at Netflix House Dallas.