Earlier this week, a store inspired by the recent Netflix interactive feature Black Mirror: Bandersnatch has appeared in Old Street station, London. Emblazoned with the name Tucker’s Newsagent and Games, the store almost identically replicates the same outlet in the Choose-Your-Own-Adventure film.
The store was discovered on Wednesday but only opened its shutters yesterday, revealing a display filled with various props from Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. Fans spotted a collection of promotions for the Tuckersoft games featured in the film, with posters advertising 80s style artwork for the titles Nohzdyve, Metl Hedd, and the eponymous Bandersnatch.
Likewise, a number of easter eggs from the Black Mirror series were also discovered in the store, with nods to previous episodes including San Junipero, USS Callister and White Bear in the form of videotapes. However, so far the store has remained closed to the public, referencing the first episode of Black Mirror’s second season with a “Be Right Back” sign hung on the door.
A second Tucker’s Newsagent and Games has reportedly also appeared today in Birmingham, UK, displaying the same ’80s memorabilia and arcade machines seen in the Old Street store. While both stores are attracting plenty of attention, it’s unclear whether the stores will open to the public in the future, as both are currently inaccessible.
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch has dominated recent headlines, as Netflix’s first attempt to create an interactive feature, with viewers choosing how to progress and reaching different endings depending on the choices they made.
Telling the story of 19-year-old game developer Stefan, viewers take control at different points in the narrative, as he attempts to adapt a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure book into a playable game. Netflix already has a number of interactive programs in its library, including Telltale’s Minecraft: Story Mode, so it seems likely that we’ll see more interactive streaming features in the future.
