Cineplex has confirmed plans to open its newest Playdium location at Vaughan Mills in Vaughan, north of Toronto, with construction already underway and an opening targeted for summer 2026. The project marks the fifth Playdium location in Canada and will be the largest in the brand’s portfolio to date, underscoring Cineplex’s continued investment in location based entertainment as a core pillar of its growth strategy.
Spanning more than 24,000 square feet, the new venue is being positioned as a destination entertainment offering within one of Canada’s most visited shopping centres. Vaughan Mills attracts more than 11 million visitors annually and is widely recognized as a super regional retail and lifestyle hub serving the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. The addition of Playdium aligns with broader trends among landlords and tenants to deepen experiential offerings that extend dwell time and complement traditional retail.
“Opening next summer, Playdium Vaughan Mills is the ultimate playground, with more attractions under one roof than any other Playdium in Canada,” said Ellis Jacob, President and CEO, Cineplex. “Located in the heart of a vibrant, fast growing community, we’re creating a destination where friends and families can build lasting memories while enjoying an incredible range of immersive attractions, amusement games and great food.”
A Purpose Built Entertainment Destination
Playdium has been positioned by Cineplex as a premium, family friendly entertainment concept that blends gaming, active attractions, and food and beverage into a single environment. At the Vaughan Mills location, guests will have access to more than 70 games and attractions, making it the most extensive Playdium offering in the country.
The attraction mix is designed to appeal to a broad demographic, from younger children to teens and adults. Offerings include arcade games, wall climbing, a ropes course, duckpin bowling, and Gel Blasters Nexus, a team based experience that blends elements of laser tag and paintball. The venue is intended to accommodate casual play as well as more structured group activities, reflecting the brand’s focus on versatility.
The scale of the Vaughan Mills location allows Cineplex to concentrate a wide range of attractions under one roof, a strategy that differentiates Playdium from smaller family entertainment centres. By offering both high energy physical activities and classic arcade experiences, the concept aims to capture repeat visits and longer stays, particularly from families seeking all weather entertainment options.
Food and Beverage as a Core Component
Food and beverage play a significant role in the Playdium experience, and the Vaughan Mills location will feature a full menu designed to support extended visits. Guests can expect a range of savoury options including burgers, pizza, poutine, sandwiches, nachos, and fries, alongside sweet treats and beverages.
The emphasis on a broad menu reflects Cineplex’s broader experience operating food service across its entertainment portfolio, including The Rec Room and its cinema circuit. At Playdium, dining is positioned as both a convenience and a social anchor, encouraging guests to remain on site between games and attractions.
Private rooms are also part of the design, enabling the venue to host birthday parties, team outings, and larger group celebrations. These event driven visits represent an important revenue stream for the brand and align with Playdium’s positioning as a destination for milestones and shared experiences.
Partnership With Vaughan Mills
The Playdium project is being delivered in partnership with Vaughan Mills, which is managed by JLL Canada on behalf of Ivanhoé Cambridge. The shopping centre, which opened in 2004, features more than 220 retailers and a distinctive mix of factory outlets, specialty stores, and entertainment concepts.
“We’re proud to welcome Playdium to Vaughan Mills, adding an incredible entertainment destination to one of Canada’s most dynamic shopping and lifestyle hubs,” said Joanne Ross, Vice President, Retail Property Management, Ontario at JLL Canada. “This partnership reflects our commitment to creating spaces where people from near and far can come together for shopping, dining, and now, unforgettable fun.”
For Vaughan Mills, the addition of a large scale entertainment anchor reinforces its positioning as a full day destination rather than a purely transactional shopping centre. Experiential tenants such as Playdium are increasingly viewed by landlords as critical to maintaining relevance, particularly as consumer expectations continue to evolve.
Evolution of the Playdium Brand
Playdium has a long history in the Canadian entertainment landscape, with the original Mississauga location operating for years prior to Cineplex’s reinvention of the brand. The modern Playdium concept began to take shape in the late 2010s as Cineplex identified opportunities to expand beyond traditional movie exhibition.
The reinvented Playdium locations emphasize technology enabled attractions, flexible layouts, and integrated food service. Early locations in Whitby and Brampton helped establish the updated format, while subsequent openings in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and Toronto’s CF Fairview Mall demonstrated the brand’s adaptability to different market contexts.
The Vaughan Mills project represents the next stage in that evolution, bringing together lessons learned from earlier locations while pushing the scale of the concept further. At more than 24,000 square feet, the venue will offer the highest concentration of attractions within the Playdium network.
Playdium operates within Cineplex’s broader location based entertainment portfolio, which also includes The Rec Room and Cineplex Junxion. Each concept is designed to serve a distinct demographic and use case, allowing Cineplex to address multiple segments of the entertainment market.
While The Rec Room is positioned toward young adults and social dining occasions, Playdium is focused on families and teens. This segmentation allows Cineplex to deploy different concepts based on site characteristics, trade area demographics, and landlord objectives.
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