Two Dallas companies have teamed up with Chili’s Grill & Bar to launch a “first-of-its-kind” augmented reality soccer game that patrons can play at the table.

The Chili’s Stadium app breaks new ground because it allows iOS and Android users to play each other seamlessly using their own phones. They just need to download the app and scan the QR code. This technology had to be created from scratch. The launch came just as the World Cup began in Russia.

“Using cutting edge technology to create an app that is exciting and exclusive to our restaurants helps build loyalty with our guests and keeps them coming back,” Alejandra Gonzalez, global marketing manager for Chili’s, said in a release.

“It’s always rewarding to do something that hasn’t been done before.”

Graham Hagood

Customers that want to play Chili’s Stadium receive special placemats that track the phones and power the AR technology. The game includes personalized avatars, selfies, and power ups to give your soccer player the edge. New features will launch every Thursday starting on June 21.

MindHandle, a creative agency based in Dallas, and Element X/Post Asylum, a content creator that specializes in interactive experiences, worked together for six months to create Chili’s Stadium.

“It’s always rewarding to do something that hasn’t been done before,” said Graham Hagood, managing director and executive producer of Element X/Post Asylum. “The ambitious scope of this project made it especially fulfilling because it required the full integration of our AR app development, animation, sound design, and even original music teams. We look forward to innovating with MindHandle for years to come.”

The game includes personalized avatars, selfies, and power ups to give your soccer player the edge. New features will launch every Thursday starting on June 21. [Image courtesy of Chili’s]

Chili’s is owned by Dallas-based Brinker International. The company has pioneered technology from Dallas companies before, such as Ziosk’s tabletop tablets that allow customers to order, pay, and play games.

There are other companies working on ways to get Apple and Android products to work together, such as the new Just a Line app that launched recently. It allows users to draw virtual lines in the air using their phones.