Vader Immortal: Episode II – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

August 1, 2019

Disney’s D23 Expo to Offer First Preview of Vader Immortal: Episode II

Did you buy an Oculus Quest just so you could play Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series? Have you been reading every bit of information released regarding episode two? Well for those die-hard fans eager to get an early look at Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series – Episode II then you’ll need to get down to Disney’s D23 Expo later this month.

ILMxLAB will be giving fans an exclusive preview of Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series – Episode II during a panel discussion at the expo. Director Ben Snow, Senior Experience Designer Jose Perez III, and Lucasfilm Story Group Creative Executive Matt Martin will be on stage to talk about the upcoming episode which still doesn’t have a release date.

Unless someone sneakily records it, the exclusive preview will only be shown to those attending the panel, so if you can’t wait to find out you’ll need to attend. But you’ll need to be quick as the three-day tickets are sold out. Luckily, the panel is being held on Friday, 23rd August and there are still single-day tickets for the Friday available for $79 USD (D23 Gold Member) or $89 (non-D23 Gold Member).

New details were released last week during the San Diego Comic-Con for Vader Immortal: Episode II, such as the importance of Force powers in the next instalment, as well as some teasing concept art showcasing the shadowy Black Bishop. Briefly seen in the first episode the Black Bishop will play a more prominent role as you delve deeper into the ancient fortress.

While Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series – Episode II will most likely be a standard trailer, the D23 Expo will have some virtual reality (VR) content on show. VRFocus reported last month that guests will be able to enjoy a VR experience putting them inside Broadway productions of Aladdin, Frozen and The Lion King.

There will be a massive amount going on at D23 Expo, providing fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities for three days if they can handle it. Should any further VR content be revealed for the event, VRFocus will let you know.

August 1, 2019

ILMxLAB to Preview Episode 2 of ‘Star Wars Vader Immortal’ at D23 Expo

Lucasfilm’s AR/VR studio ILMxLAB is set to give Star Wars fans an exclusive first look at Star Wars Vader Immortal – Episode II during a panel at the official Disney fan event, D23 Expo.

The panel is slated to feature director Ben Snow, senior experience designer Jose Perez III, and Lucasfilm Story Group creative executive Matt Martin.

Besides an in-depth discussion about the sequel, fans in attendance will also get a sneak peek of the studio’s next Star Wars-themed VR experience, available only to those in attendance.

The expo itself takes place in Anaheim, California on August 23-25. The panel is scheduled for Friday, August 23rd at 2:00 PM. Keep an eye on the schedule here.

Image courtesy ILMxLAB, the official Star Wars blog

In case you haven’t heard, Star Wars Vader Immortal is a three-part VR “narrative adventure” and Oculus exclusive available on Rift and Quest. Little is known about the second installment, however last week the studio released word that this episode will put a marked emphasis on Force powers, a contrast to the first episode, which focused on wielding lightsabers in its additional game mode ‘Lightsaber Dojo’.

Although there isn’t much else to go on, make sure to check out our review of Vader Immortal: Episode I to find out why we gave it a more than respectable [8/10].

The post ILMxLAB to Preview Episode 2 of ‘Star Wars Vader Immortal’ at D23 Expo appeared first on Road to VR.

July 23, 2019

New Concept Art Images Released for Vader Immortal: Episode II

Last week VRFocus reported that ILMxLAB was hosting a Star Wars Stories panel for Vader Immortal: Episode 1 as well as releasing new details for Episode II. Several new concept art images have now surfaced as well as new details regarding the forthcoming episode.

The above and below images give a teasing hint at whats’ to come in Vader Immortal: Episode II. It has been widely known that Force powers would be making an appearance and thanks to Vader taking your lightsaber at the end of Episode I, Force powers are going to be a major feature.

Talking to StarWars.com, Ben Snow, director of Vader Immortal said: “You will get to use the Force in Episode II. The first image is really part of the training. The way we thought about this was, we wanted to give you the Vader equivalent of Yoda teaching Luke about the Force in Empire Strikes Back. So we wanted it to be slightly darker and more twisted. He talks about the power of the dark side as well as the things you can do with the Force. So in this moment that the concept art reveals, you see him starting to manipulate objects and he’s starting to show you how you can use the Force to create something. But then, of course, Vader takes it in his own direction.”

“Our goal is to make the Force in Episode II as satisfying as the lightsaber felt in Episode I,” Snow adds.

Episode I featured the rather shadowy Black Bishop, and the character returns in the concept art, next to a tomb in the ancient fortress: “He becomes quite important in Episode II, and we learn about his background,” Snow says. “We’re trying to make it feel very atmospheric. This is a hidden area of the fortress that hasn’t really been explored. The Mustafarians know of it through legend. It’s a good chance to poke around in an unexplored part of Star Wars.”

It’s all very exciting stuff for fans of the franchise, yet there’s still no word on the release date for Vader Immortal: Episode II. When details do emerge, VRFocus will let you know.

July 19, 2019

ILMxLAB Comic-Con Panel to Offer a Sneak Peek at Vader Immortal: Episode II

The annual San Diego Comic-Con began yesterday offering fans of comic books, films, videogames and more a chance to hang out, meet the stars and glean new information about what’s coming up in their favourite franchises. For the event, ILMxLAB will be holding a Star Wars Stories panel to discuss the virtual reality (VR) series and tease new info regarding episode 2.

It was always known that Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series would be a three-parter, with the first episode focused on lightsabers while a panel during the Star Wars Celebration event in April revealed that force powers would be the next highlight of the series. What’s not known is the extent of these force powers, Force Choke, Force Push, Force Lightning, the franchise has quite a few to chose from. Additional information may also include further narrative details, as well as the introduction of new characters.

Originally announced as an Oculus Quest title, Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series can also be played on Oculus Rift/Rift S. More of an interactive story rather than a fully immersive videogame, the experience certainly impressed when VRFocus reviewed the title back in May. Giving it a full five-star, the review said: “It was difficult to decide whether to fully review Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series as it was the first episode or wait for the other two. Quite honestly it was too enjoyable not to talk about it, achieving that one all-important factor in an episodic tale; suitably stopping at a point where you instantly want more.”

As yet there’s no word on a release date for Episode 2 of Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series – that could also happen today? The ‘Step Inside ILMxLAB’s Star Wars Stories’ panel takes place at 4pm PST (12am GMT) with director Ben Snow, senior experience designer Jose Perez III, senior producer Alyssa Finley, and production coordinator Sarah Barrick all taking to the stage.

The six Vader Immortal collectable posters will be given away during the event at the Lucasfilm pavilion. The Darth Vader poster will only be available from the ILMxLAB panel. For further updates on Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series, keep reading VRFocus.