Star Wars fans can now experience The Force Awakens through Google Cardboard on the official Star Wars app.
Since its inception roughly four months ago, the official Star Wars app has been the go to destination for up-to-the minute news and trailers for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The app even covers the Prequel and Original Trilogies by providing clever GIFs and fun games, and now, its creators have taken that fun a step further with Jakku Spy.
StarWars.com made the announcement:
"Jakku Spy, a Google Cardboard experience presented by Verizon, is available now on the official Star Wars app, and it’s a new form of Star Wars entertainment. Developed by Lucasfilm’s ILMxLAB studio in conjunction with Google and Verizon, Jakku Spy thrusts you into the role of a Resistance secret agent on Jakku (the desert world from Star Wars: The Force Awakens), envelopes you in stunning virtual reality, and unfolds in a series of story-driven installments."
This is a first for the Star Wars saga, as technology like this was not available during either set of trilogies. Jakku Spy will lead into Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Lucasfilm’s head of New Media/VP, Advanced Development Group — Rob Bredow — had this to say about the app experience:
"“ILMxLAB’s whole foundation and mission is about creating immersive entertainment, and that includes virtual reality. We think a lot of people are going to get to experience virtual reality in Google Cardboard for the first time with Jakku Spy. It’s a great opportunity because there’s this familiar content — characters and vehicles that you’ve seen in trailers — but you’re seeing it in a completely new way.”"
StarWars.com goes on to reveal that Jakku Spy uses a Google Cardboard viewer, which is a foldable frame for smartphones that allows its user to affordibly experience virtual reality from the comfort of their own homes. All one needs do is hold the viewer to their eyes, to immerse themselves in the world of The Force Awakens. You can make your own foldable frame, or visit your local Verizon store to pick up one of four limited edition Star Wars: The Force Awakens themed viewers. Choices are: BB-8, Kylo Ren, First Order Trooper, and R2-D2.
You can find out more about this new addition to the Star Wars app by visiting the link provided, and remember, Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits theaters worldwide on December 17 and 18.