Posted Wed Sep 26, 2018 at 01:00 PM PDT by Steven Cohen
Darth Vader is heading to Oculus' new VR system.
ILMxLAB -- Lucasfilm's immersive entertainment division -- has announced a new Star Wars VR series for the recently revealed Oculus Quest VR platform. Vader Immortal is an upcoming three-part virtual reality series set to debut on the system in 2019.
"Our mission at ILMxLAB is to have fans 'Step Inside Our Stories,' and Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series represents a significant step forward in that ongoing quest," says Vicki Dobbs Beck, ILMxLAB Executive in Charge. "Our friends at Oculus share ILMxLAB’s ambition to bring compelling immersive narratives to life, and using Oculus' hardware, we will invite fans to experience Darth Vader as never before."
The VR series will focus on Darth Vader during the time between Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. As part of the experience, fans will be able to wield a lightsaber and explore the Sith Lord's castle on the lava-world of Mustafar (as previously seen in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story). Though full details on the story have not been announced yet, the project will be part of the official Star Wars canon. David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight, Secrets of the Empire) is on board as the writer and executive producer, and the series is being developed under the guidance of the Lucasfilm Story Group.
Check out the official Vader Immortal trailer below!
"Whether it's hearing Darth Vader's breathing behind you and physically turning to face him in person or wielding a lightsaber with your own hands, Vader Immortal captures the ultimate wish fulfillment," says Oculus Head of Experiences Colum Slevin. "Untethered VR immerses you in this universe and places you at the center of this amazing story."
The newly announced Oculus Quest is an upcoming all-in-one VR gaming system. The device features six degrees of freedom and Touch controllers, and does not require a separate PC, wires, or any external sensors.
Under the hood, the Oculus Quest uses the same optics as the Oculus Go with a display resolution of 1600x1440 per eye. Likewise, the system offers upgraded built-in audio with deeper bass. Meanwhile, the unit's new Oculus Insight technology is able to track a user's position in real time through the use of four integrated ultra wide-angle sensors and computer vision algorithms. Finally, the included Touch Controllers let players interact naturally with the VR worlds around them.
The Oculus Quest is set to arrive in Spring 2019 for an MSRP of $399. Over 50 titles are expected to be available for the launch.
Sources: StarWars.com, Oculus 1, Oculus 2
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