Star Wars fans across the world are eagerly anticipating the release of the latest movie in the Star Wars franchise, Star Wars: The Last Jedi. As part of the promotion for the film and its associated merchandise, a global augmented reality (AR) event will be rolling out in retail store in September.
Fans will be able to download the Star Wars smartphone app in order to participate in the ‘Force Friday II’ event, a follow up to the successful Force Friday event in 2015. The AR component will take the form of a treasure hunt, where fans visiting any of the 20,000 participating retail stores will be able to locate a ‘Find the Force’ graphic that, when scanned, will reveal a character in AR that users can then take pictures with and share on social media.
“Force Friday II is a major milestone in the countdown to Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Star Wars has always championed new technology, and we are excited that augmented reality will allow fans to experience the universe in a whole new way,” said Kathleen Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm.
“Force Friday II puts fans right at the center of the action using augmented reality to bring our characters to life like never before. The technology theme continues in the Star Wars: The Last Jedi product line, which is our most innovative yet – we can’t wait for fans to see what’s in store,” said Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media.
By sharing photos taken with the AR characters, fans will be able to enter into the Find the Force sweepstakes to win a ticket to the Star Wars: The Last Jedi première in December.
The event will take place on 1st-3rd September, 2017. Users will need to ensure they have the latest version of the Star Wars app to participate.
VRFocus will continue to report on new applications for AR technology.