Players competed in the Red Bull Tetris World Final inside the Dubai Frame as the landmark was transformed into an immersive live arena inspired by the iconic puzzle game.
Staged for around 500 invited guests and broadcast internationally, the one-night event fused architecture, broadcast production and live competition. LED surfaces, architectural lighting and custom scenic elements translated the instantly recognisable visual language of Tetris into a large-scale physical environment within the structure.
Impact Production was responsible for the creative and technical delivery of the visual system, leading lighting design, LED integration, architectural illumination and media playback.
Media server at the centre of the visual system
At the core of the production was the Hippotizer Karst+ Media Server from Green Hippo, which handled video playback, LED surface mapping, live camera integration and real-time visual processing throughout the show.
The system operated alongside an Avolites D9 lighting console and an NDI-based workflow for live broadcast integration, allowing the production team to combine pre-rendered content with live gameplay and broadcast feeds.
Eriny Aziz, media server programmer at Impact Production, explained that the production required rapid transitions between gameplay visuals, competition graphics and broadcast outputs.
“We utilised layer blending nodes and real-time effects extensively to manipulate visual layers dynamically during key show moments,” said Aziz. “The production demanded rapid transitions between competition graphics, live gameplay feeds, stage content and broadcast outputs while maintaining absolute stability in an outdoor environment with limited rehearsal time.
“The flexibility of Hippotizer allowed us to integrate pre-rendered media and live broadcast feeds seamlessly. Its real-time processing power and reliability were critical in managing live inputs, timecoded sequences and adaptive visual layers under tight technical constraints.”
Lighting and scenography integrated with gameplay
Impact Production, contracted directly by Red Bull UAE, delivered the full lighting design and installation for the event, including LED system integration, broadcast lighting and architectural illumination of the Dubai Frame itself.
The team also designed and programmed custom Tetromino lighting panels embedded within the stage. These elements were integrated into timecoded lighting sequences that responded to gameplay and performance cues throughout the competition.
“As the competition progressed, the lighting narrative evolved in sync, dissolving the boundary between digital interface and physical scenography,” said Aziz.
The production also included lighting for a live orchestra and a DJ performance by El Wailly, alongside timecoded lighting sequences that ran throughout the competition.
Planning around a complex architectural venue
Delivering a broadcast-grade outdoor production within the Dubai Frame presented several technical challenges.
The stage structure reached approximately nine metres in height, increasing complexity for rigging, focus and maintenance. At the same time, the architecture of the Frame limited conventional lighting positions, requiring careful fixture placement and detailed planning.
Previsualisation and lighting simulations were carried out using SketchUp and L8 to refine both creative intent and technical implementation prior to load-in.
Despite the constraints, the production team maintained stable video and lighting performance while preserving the architectural integrity of the landmark.
“Hippotizer’s robust processing engine and dependable output architecture were instrumental in maintaining system stability across live camera inputs, timecoded sequences and mapped LED surfaces - all within an outdoor environment,” Aziz added.
Drone finale recreates Tetris above the Dubai skyline
The event concluded with a synchronised finale that extended the visual narrative beyond the stage itself.
Timecoded lighting and video escalated across the structure before transitioning to a drone display recreating Tetris above the Dubai Frame, linking stage visuals, architectural lighting and aerial choreography into a single visual moment for both the live audience and international broadcast viewers.
Creative direction for the production was led by Impact Production’s Giulia Marocchino and Luca Taschini, with Jean William serving as technical director and lighting designer.