Tournament
The Empire Cup 2024
A 128-player Valorant LAN across two days, streamed to 40,000 live viewers with zero downtime. Our crew ran 24 stations in tournament lockdown mode.
40k
Live viewers
Fitzroy · Melbourne · Est. 2019
Where Melbourne Comes to Play
Crystal Wild Empire is Fitzroy's premier luxury gaming lounge — RTX-powered battlestations, private VR suites and a competitive esports arena, all wrapped in velvet-quiet comfort on Gertrude Street.
- 64
- Premium battlestations
- 4.9★
- From 1,200+ reviews
- 10am–11pm
- Open seven days
Who We Are
A gaming sanctuary built for the obsessed
Founded in a converted Fitzroy warehouse in 2019, Crystal Wild Empire pairs serious hardware with hospitality you'd expect from a fine bar. Our floor is run by players, tuned by technicians, and kept immaculate so you can focus on the only thing that matters — the next round. From casual co-op nights to nationally ranked tournaments, this is where Melbourne's gaming community feels at home.
Meet the crew
MV
Mara Vance
Founder & Floor Director
Former Dota 2 caster who traded the booth for the build. Mara designs every seat layout on the floor.
How It Works
Four steps from arrival to victory
No memberships, no friction. Walk in or book ahead — your station is ready and pre-configured the moment you sit down.
- 01
Reserve your seat
Pick a battlestation, VR suite or console pod online or at the door. Peak weekend slots fill fast, so booking ahead is wise.
- 02
Sign in & sync
Tap your card and your Steam, Epic, Riot and Battle.net libraries load instantly to a clean, private session profile.
- 03
Play your way
Solo grind, five-stack with mates, or queue for a tournament. Our crew handles peripherals, drinks and tech on demand.
- 04
Pay & power down
Settle a single tab at the bar. Sessions wipe automatically — your accounts are logged out and data cleared on exit.
From $14/hour casual · $48 for a 4-hour day pass · VR suites from $32/hour
The Space
Step inside the Empire
Tap any image to view it full screen.
Case Studies
What we've built for our community
Community
Fitzroy After Dark
A weekly Thursday co-op night that grew from 12 regulars to a 90-strong waitlist, turning quiet midweek evenings into our busiest slot.
7.5×
Midweek growth
Education
Empire Academy
A six-week coaching program pairing ranked players with newcomers. 84% of graduates climbed at least one full rank tier.
84%
Ranked up
Charity
Extra Life Marathon
A 24-hour charity stream from our arena raised funds for the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne with players rotating through the night.
$31k
Raised for RCH
Reviews
Loved by Melbourne's players
“The rigs are genuinely faster than my setup at home, and the staff actually know their stuff. I clutched my first Immortal promo here on a Saturday night.”
“We booked the whole arena for a team bootcamp. Pristine peripherals, fast internet, and Priya ran our scrims like a pro. Best LAN venue in Melbourne.”
“Brought my partner for a VR date night and we both left grinning. Comfortable, clean, and the cold brew is dangerously good. We're weekly regulars now.”
Good to Know
Frequently asked questions
Walk-ins are always welcome, but weekends and Thursday ladder nights book out quickly. We recommend reserving a station online if you have a specific time in mind, especially for groups of four or more.
Every PC runs Steam, Epic, Riot, EA App and Battle.net with the latest titles pre-installed. We also have PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X console pods, plus Meta Quest 3 and PCVR in our private suites. Request anything and our crew will load it.
Casual PC time starts at $14 per hour, with a 4-hour day pass for $48. VR suites are $32 per hour and console pods are $12 per hour. Students get 20% off before 5pm on weekdays with a valid ID.
Absolutely. We regularly host birthdays, team bootcamps, corporate nights and LAN tournaments. The full arena seats 24 in lockdown mode. Email us and Priya will tailor a package to your group and budget.
We're at 37 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065, a two-minute walk from the Gertrude Street tram stop. We're open seven days a week from 10am to 11pm, including public holidays.
Get in Touch
Reserve your station
Booking a group, planning an event, or just have a question? Send us a message and our crew will reply within one business day.
- Phone
- +61 3 8679 5678
- [email protected]
- Visit us
- 37 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065
- Hours
- Open daily · 10am – 11pm