The Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise is arguably one of the most popular pieces of horror fiction in the modern era. Its expansive lore and hardcore fandom include an extensive library of video games, two live-action films, and a big-budget theme park Halloween maze. Toys, collectibles, costumes, and merchandise galore have made FNAF an undisputed multimillion-dollar success. However, one question has always loomed in the minds of fans: “What if there was a real-life Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria?”
That question will be answered in 2027, as the American Dream and ScottGames announced on August 9th via social media that they’re bringing it to life. It won’t be a temporary pop-up location for photo ops or another haunted maze filled with Spirit Halloween animatronics, but a fully functional restaurant. Here are five concrete facts we know for sure about what’s to come in 2027.
1. It’s Not Just a Set
An interior concept rendering for the real-life Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza location.
Based on the concept art released online above, this isn’t going to be some theme park facade. The official press release explicitly stated that this will be a “functional reimagining” of the iconic pizzeria, which means you’ll be able to sit down and eat as well as play video games just like the setting in the popular franchise. According to their spokesperson who released the announcement online, the attraction will be the “world’s first permanent immersive restaurant experience tied to the franchise.”
FNAF community talent like Atreyu Alcantar (DaRegularSauce) will be stepping up as the project’s Creative Lead. They are building an establishment meant to operate as a permanent, immersive restaurant. The press release was very clear in explicitly stating, “We’re not building a set that looks like Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza – we’re building Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza.”
You’ll be walking into the actual, tangible and fully alive establishment. As you eat your pizza, Freddy and the Fazbear Band will be on stage in all their animatronic glory. You’ll be able to visit Foxy’s Pirate Cove. The icing on the cupcake (if you know you know)is “immersive multiplayer survival-horror experiences” where fans will get to peek behind the curtain and witness the dark secrets hiding in plain sight.
2. ScottGames is Directly Involved
The official announcement tweet from ScottGames and American Dream revealing the 2027 grand opening.
American Dream is directly collaborating with FNAF franchise creator ScottGames in the development of the entire venue. In less creative hands, this could be seen as just a mall licensing out a name and slapping on a logo for a quick cash grab, but when the franchise creator is directly involved in development, the legitimacy stacks up even higher.
And in FNAF fashion of keeping the lore alive, the creative team at ScottGames even hid the announcement of the restaurant in a cryptic pizza teaser on the franchise’s 12th anniversary. This is the exact level of unhinged dedication that FNAF fans expect. Ultimately, whether it will live up to expectations remains to be seen. With ScottGames partnering on its development, they will not want to see their franchise subjected to the shoddy treatment of the very pizza places it parodies.
3. Fully Functional Animatronics and Authentic Stages
In 2027, the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie won’t be the only way fans will see the Fazbear Five in real life.
The band is getting back together for real-life animatronic stage shows. Everyone who comes to eat at Freddy Fazbear’s will be treated to performances from The Fazbear Band featuring Freddy Fazbear himself, Bonnie the Rabbit, and Chica the Chicken. Foxy the Pirate will be featured in his own dedicated Pirate Cove.
Seeing these massive animatronics moving in real space, performing licensed hits just as they do in the films and games, will be a delight to every fan who’s been wanting to see it since 2014. It’s a Chuck E. Cheese for horror fans, and it’s definitely looking to go all out in creating an authentic experience.
4. It’s an Actual Arcade and Pizzeria
Hopefully your arcade experience will be not nearly as terrifying as Five Nights at Freddy’s: Into the Pit.
To complete the illusion, the food actually has to be delivered to the customers in attendance, not just be for show. The venue (which has yet to be revealed for the actual location, but more on that later) will be designed as a quick-service restaurant where you’ll be able to sit down, eat a slice, and then drop some tokens into real, playable arcade games.
One can only assume that, to keep the flow of traffic moving, those who attend will have only a limited amount of time to sit and eat while watching the animatronics. Hardcore FNAF fans will definitely want to make the most of their time there and hang out as long as possible. How all this will be achieved has yet to be determined. Until that’s made clear, you’ll be invited to enjoy your pizza, play some games, watch the animatronics perform, and completely ignore the overwhelming sense of dread that they might be watching you back.
5. The “Survival-Horror” Element
Fans are hoping for as detailed an experience as Universal Studios gave them at HHN 34.
Perhaps the most important element of the entire experience will be the promoted “immersive multiplayer survival-horror experiences.” The key to that part of the official press release is “experiences.” Plural. That means there will be more than one way for fans to feel the terror that the video game franchise and its movies made popular through their characters.
But other than what’s being promised, how deep does the rabbit hole go? I’ve done some deep digging on the rumor mills online in different fan forums, representatives from the American Dream, and examples from other previous incarnations of bringing Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza to life.
Predictions for What Could Be
Since we know what’s coming, let’s have some fun and try to guess exactly how they’re going to pull it off! Here are my predictions as to how and where this nightmare will be brought to the American Dream.
The Immersive Experience
Could this concept art for a never built dark ride be what a walkthrough survival-horror experience could look like?
The most obvious route would be a premium, walkthrough haunted maze. More than likely, it wouldn’t be too dissimilar to what Universal Studios was able to pull off when it created an FNAF-themed maze for Halloween Horror Nights in 2025. However, with ScottGames being directly involved, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to consider that they are developing, or have already developed, a dedicated virtual reality group experience. Considering the success of Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted for Quest VR Games, fans could find themselves putting on a virtual springlock suit of their own.
Another possibility that would be uniquely terrifying is for the restaurant to offer an after-hours dark dining experience. Imagine sitting down to eat as you normally would, but the entire vibe of the restaurant feels just a bit off. The foreboding atmosphere, where you suddenly have no idea whether the animatronics will perform or leap off the stage to terrify you to your face, would truly set it apart from any other immersive attraction out there today.
The Location within American Dream
The Dream Live exhibit space could easily house a fully realized Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria.
Where exactly will the nightmare take place in the massive entertainment complex? This seems to be the question in contention the most with fans online who have been roaming the mall since it was announced.
Currently, there’s a location covered with promotional posters on top of blacked-out windows located between the Five Guys Burgers and Fries and the interactive “living video game” attraction called Bam Kazam. Being right near the Angry Birds Mini Golf area as well as Hasbro’s Gameroom, it feels like prime real estate for what the press release is promising.
I personally believe that there is a much larger possibility that it will be built in the Dream Live exhibit area, currently home to the family-friendly Bubble Planet exhibit (the only exhibit that’s ever been there). It’s aesthetically perfect for the restaurant. A massive footprint and a built-in marquee already on display provide it a ready-to-go and easier conversion of space to bring a true, fully realized Freddy Fazbear’s to life.
Are You Ready for the Night Shift?
Would you apply for an overnight position?
Think about how far the FNAF community has come since the first game’s release. For those of us who’ve been there since the beginning, we started out jumping at compressed audio files on our laptops while playing in the dark. Now, a real-life version that was the centerpiece for over a decade of nightmares and legendary lore is getting a massive, permanent monument to the franchise in New Jersey.
It will be chaotic, enormous in hype, and hopefully exactly what fans have been waiting for. Now the question is if you’ll be brave enough to book a table and survive the night shift. If you’re anything like me, you’ll probably be sticking to the arcade and staying as far away from Pirate Cove as possible. They all can’t wait to meet you to join the animatronic family in 2027.
Sound off in the comments below on what you would like to see at the real life pizzeria and remember to keep those flashlights handy!
Dining and Cooking