Marvel and ILM Immersive Announce Vision Pro Exclusive Based on Animated Series ‘What If…?’

Marvel Studios and ILM Immersive today announced a new interactive story coming exclusively to Apple Vision Pro, which is based on the popular Disney+ animated series What If…?.

Called What If…? – An Immersive Story, the developers call it an “immersive, narrative-driven and innovative story in mixed reality,” which is promised to be an hour-long experience.

It’s also said to use both augmented and virtual reality, letting users interact by using both their eyes and hands, also including both new and iconic Marvel Cinematic Universe locations.

Here’s how the developers describe it:

“What If…?” reimagines events from across the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in unexpected ways. Now, fans have been chosen to step into the leading role of an all-new immersive story that transforms the space around them as they traverse across realities. Throughout their journey, they will come face-to-face with Multiversal variants of their favorite characters, learn the mystic arts, and be tasked with harnessing the power of the Infinity Stones.

“Together, these features will remind fans that time, space, and reality are more than a linear path,” the announcement teases.

That’s about all we know for now, however the developers say we can expect more details about What If…? – An Immersive Story “soon,” so we’ll be tuned to ILM Immersive’s profile on X (formerly Twitter) for all of the latest developments.

Considering the $3,500 Vision Pro lacks a critical mass of native XR experiences and games, we’re not certain what to expect from what’s shaping up to a fairly big budget project. What is certain though is ILM Immersive (previously ILMxLAB) is the same team behind the Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series, which for a long time was exclusive to Meta hardware, and stands as one of the best narrative-based VR series to date.

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Become a Superhero in The VOID’s Avengers: Damage Control

Location-based entertainment (LBE) attraction already has some big-name IP’s available for guests to immerse themselves in, including Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire and Ralph Breaks VRToday, the company has announced its latest virtual reality (VR) experience in conjunction with Marvel Studios and ILMxLAB, Avengers: Damage Control.

Avengers: Damage Control

Rather than playing one of the famous characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) like you would in Marvel Powers United VRin Avengers: Damage Control you fight alongside them. Obviously, you’re suped-up thanks to Wakanda’s own tech genius Shuri, who has enlisted you to test her latest prototype design: Emergency Response Suits, created with a proprietary blend of Wakandan and Stark Industries technology.

When sinister forces appear you’re called into battle, fighting alongside famous Avengers like Doctor Strange, Ant-Man, the Wasp and more. You’ll visit iconic locations from the MCU universe and thanks to The VOID’s immersive technology be able to explore real-world sets whilst experiencing physical effects like heat and wind.

“We’re always looking for new stories and corners of the universe for our characters to explore. Now, after more than a decade of amazing support, we are excited to give fans the same opportunity: to be a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe,” said Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios in a studio. “Expanding how people can experience the MCU is something we’re always trying to do, and in Avengers: Damage Control, we wanted to give fans the chance to suit up alongside some their favourite heroes for the first time ever.”

Avengers: Damage Control

“The opportunity to bring such a beloved universe alive through immersive storytelling has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Shereif Fattouh, Senior Producer, ILMxLAB. “Avengers: Damage Control lets you feel what it’s like to shoot repulsor blasts with your own two hands, suited up in Shuri’s latest technology. This original adventure allows you to go beyond the screen, and become a character in the story itself.”

Avengers: Damage Control will be coming to select The VOID locations starting 18th October 2019. These include:

  • Downtown Disney District in Anaheim, CA
  • Santa Monica, CALas Vegas, NV
  • Mall of America – Minneapolis, MN
  • Cinemark – Plano, TX
  • World Trade Center – New York, NY
  • The Battery – Atlanta, GA
  • Genting Highlands – Malaysia
  • The Rec Room at Round House Park – Toronto, Canada
  • The Rec Room at Square One Shopping Centre – Ontario, Canada
  • The Rec Room at the West Edmonton Mall – Edmonton, Canada

Tickets can be purchased from The VOID website. For further updates, keep reading VRFocus.

Five Marvel Studios VR Experiences We Want From The Void

Five Marvel Studios VR Experiences We Want From The Void

Location-based VR experience maker The Void shared some exciting news last week. Not only is it working on a Wreck it Ralph VR experience to release later this year, but it’s also promised something new in collaboration with Marvel Studios in 2019.

Consider us interested.

Next year is a big one for Marvel Studios, as it debuts Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel and rounds out over 10 years of movie making with the final installment in the Avengers saga, so there’s plenty of possibilities for a great VR experience. We put our heads together and came up with a few possible ideas.

Captain Marvel Tie-In

The first of the two most obvious choices is a tie-in with the first Marvel film to arrive next year, Captain Marvel. The MCU’s first female-led solo film is already highly anticipated and a major tie-in to introduce us to its cosmic cast of characters might be just what the doctor ordered. We already know that Captain Marvel will be part of an elite space force at the start of the movie; perhaps players could be a part of her squad?

This would give us the chance to experience some of the MCU’s most fantastic sights as well as meet virtual renditions of characters like Guardians of the Galaxy baddie Ronin. Plus the army of shape-shifting Skrulls that are set to appear as antagonists in the film make for perfect minions to do virtual combat with.

Avengers 4 Tie-In

Of course, if this VR experience is tying-into a newly-released Marvel film then the smart money is on it linking up with Avengers 4. As if the hype surrounding Infinity War wasn’t already high enough, its ending has left fans begging for clues as to what the untitled fourth Avengers film will entail. How cool would it be to get a glimpse of the film, which brings together practically every hero in the MCU to date, in VR for the first time?

Not to mention the raw intimidation that would come from staring down a baddie like Josh Brolin’s Thanos, who has proved to be pretty unstoppable thus far. If The Void gave players the chance to pick from any one of the MCU’s heroes to control in a dramatic, high-production showdown with Thanos, this could be one of VR’s most exciting experiences thus far.

Ant-Man & The Wasp Heist

Ant-Man’s second outing might have already come and gone but I have to admit his size-altering powers make both him and new partner-in-sort-of-crime Wasp an ideal fit for a memorable VR experience. I could easily see the latest film’s mad car chase, in people become giants and Pez containers knock over baddies, making for the perfect VR piece.

Perhaps given that Scott and Hope’s powers are based on their suits and not supernatural, we could all feasibly strap into our own shrinking devices and explore the MCU from an entirely new angle. A S.H.I.E.L.D. stealth mission in which you sneak around an iconic Marvel location would be sure to get people in through the door.

Dr. Strange’s Magical Adventure

Dr. Strange’s recent VR debut in Marvel: Powers United VR was admittedly a little underwhelming, but we still maintain that he’s one of the heroes best suited to a VR experience. Strange’s ability to teleport via sling ring and summon all kinds of fantastical attacks to make him an ideal candidate for a VR experience.

Perhaps we could be students at the monastery that Strange himself once visited, protecting the Sanctums all over the world from magical invasions.

Marvel Studios Legacy Tour

This is sort of like another Avengers 4 tie-in but bear with us. It’s thought that there might be a bit of time traveling involved in Marvel Studios’ next sequel, with our heroes revisiting some of their past movies. This is the perfect excuse for a VR experience that leads us on a sort of ‘Best of’ of the MCU.

Imagine clambering through the rubble in the battle of New York as Iron Man swoops overhead, or dodging Ultron robots in Sokovia whilst Hulk smashes. Or how about piloting a ship alongside the Guardians in the defense of Xandar? Joining Captain America’s Howling Commandoes in the second World War? There’s a massive number of scenes we could jump to make the best out of this experience.

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The VOID And ILMxLAB Unveil New Hyper-Reality Productions Including Ralph Breaks VR

The VOID, a global leader in multi-sensory location-based experiences and ILMxLAB, Lucasfilm’s award-winning immersive entertainment division have revealed a new hyper-reality production set to be released through 2019. The two companies are collaborating on five original Disney IP hyper-reality experiences with the first two to be created in collaboration with Walt Disney Animation Studios and Marvel Studios.

Star Wars Secret of the Empire

The news comes following the overwhelming success of Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire which showed the companies that their was a high demand for world class hyper-reality experiences that made use of the latest in computer graphics and virtual reality (VR). Because of this, ILMxLAB has been named as the exclusive producer for the Marvel Studios and Walk Disney Animation Studios experiences with three more Disney titles to follow.

“Partnering with the creative teams at ILMxLAB & The VOID on this new type of immersive storytelling adventure is an exciting opportunity. For the first time, we will give fans the chance to walk into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and interact with some of their favorite characters,” said Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios.

One of these experiences includes the hyper-reality experience Ralph Breaks VR which is set to release later this Fall. This will be followed by an untitled Marvel experience which will release in 2019. The other three releases will come following these but details on these have yet to be released. Information such as release dates, locations and ticket availability will also be revealed and made available in the coming months.

Ralph Breaks VR

“Working with our friends at ILMxLAB to help bring Star Wars fans directly into that galaxy far, far away in such a strong creative process, it became apparent we needed to continue on this path as The VOID establishes itself as a leader in location-based entertainment,” said Craig Watson, Chairman & CEO of The VOID. “This is just the beginning of our collaboration with ILMxLAB, Marvel Studios, and Walt Disney Animation Studios as together we broaden the possibilities for immersive storytelling experiences to reach places previously only available in the imagination.”

VRFocus will be sure to bring you all the latest information on Ralph Breaks VR and the future experiences from ILMxLAB and The Void so make sure to stay tuned to stay up to date.