Image taken from National Geographic Explore VR
Continuing its legacy of groundbreaking storytelling, National Geographic is leveraging the latest in immersive technology with “National Geographic Explore VR,” a new VR experience that takes viewers on a dramatic adventure through Antarctica.
National Geographic partnered with Oculus, Facebook’s VR division, and Force Field, the gaming development company, to create Explore VR, which will be available this spring on Oculus Quest, Oculus’ first all-in-one gaming system built for virtual reality.
Image taken from National Geographic Explore VR
Explore VR will give virtual explorers of all ages a thrilling mission: Find a lost penguin colony hidden in the frozen wilderness. The 30-minute experience kicks off with a kayak ride through icy waters then continues with a climb up the side of a towering ice sheet, giving explorers the opportunity to learn what it takes to survive an epic snowstorm by fully immersing them in the wilds of Antarctica.
“National Geographic continues to experiment in the immersive storytelling space. Through this partnership with Oculus and Force Field, we’re furthering our mission to create innovative, purpose-driven content to spark curiosity and help people better understand the world."
Jenna Pirog, Senior Director of Video and Immersive Experiences at National Geographic Partners
Explore VR will add new adventures in the coming months taking thrill-seekers on immersive trips all over the world, such as archaeological expeditions to sites of important cultural heritage. With this partnership with Oculus, National Geographic is able to transport their audience to the most far-flung environments for experiences they never once thought possible. Using Oculus Touch, a motion controller system, would-be adventurers will set up camp, build a wind barricade, and zip up their survival tents—all using their hands.
Previously, National Geographic partnered with YouTube on the VR series, “The Okavango Experience,” that follows a National Geographic Society expedition, part of the Okavango Wilderness Project, as it transects the largest wetland in southern Africa.