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Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series on its way to PS VR this summer

Get ready to experience the power of the Dark Side first-hand as Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series Force-chokes its way from Oculus-exclusive status to Playstation VR title this summer. The announcement came courtesy of Mark S. Miller, Executive Creative Producer of ILMxLAB on the official Playstation blog, who divulged that all three episodes of Vader Immortal as well as the Lightsaber Dojos will be available from the onset.

Today, I’m excited to let you know that Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series is coming to PlayStation VR later this summer, and the series will be available as a complete series: all three episodes and Lightsaber Dojos will be available for purchase together, for the first time.

Back in 2016, when ILMxLAB first started talking about creating a canonical VR series that focused on Darth Vader, our goal was to tell a new and unique story about one of the most infamous villains in the galaxy. We wanted to bring you into the world of Star Wars in a way that could only be done through immersive storytelling in VR. This would put YOU right in the middle of the action to connect with amazing characters as your actions move the story forward.



Prior to Vader Immortal, I worked with the Lucasfilm Story Group to develop Star Wars stories for feature films. Now, the task was to bring the same techniques and care that we used in our movies to this new form of storytelling. Of course, quality is key for a brand like Star Wars. We pushed ourselves every day to combine high quality visuals, sound and compelling interactivity in a way not previously attempted or achieved in the VR space. To do this, we built a team of folks with varied storytelling backgrounds from film, games, and animation, brought on key collaborators like ClutchPlay, and leveraged Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 4. This, along with the help of Writer and Executive Producer David S. Goyer, helped to find our path for the project.

One of our first meetings began with a whiteboard. We listed out everything that we thought fans (and ourselves!) would most want to experience, if they were inside the Star Wars galaxy. Wielding a lightsaber was right there at the top of that list, but we knew that if we were going to do that, we had to do it right. We went through many different mechanics, both in-house and with our partners at Ninja Theory, before we got to the point where you really felt like you were parrying a blow, slicing through metal, or blocking blaster fire. We continually tested and tweaked the feedback until we got it right.

There are so many parts that grab you in the experience, but my favorite is still early in the first episode. The moment when Darth Vader first approaches you is something that can’t really be explained (but I’ll try). It’s intense when his gaze follows you and he speaks directly to you. I’ve seen some people stand up taller and get in his face, and some shrink a bit or even step back, but his presence is intimidating, and unforgettable.

Our hard work has been recognized, too, with Vader Immortal winning Best AV/VR Game at the 2020 GDC Awards, and the Producers Guild Innovation Award earlier this year.

The team is hard at work getting the story up and running for PS VR, and we can’t wait for you all to experience it and meet Vader face to face. We’ll have more to share in the coming months.

Vader Immortal takes place primarily on the fiery planet of Mustafar, where Darth Vader presides over a lava-filled fortress described in Star Wars lore as a “nightmare castle.”

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The second episode continues players’ journey into Vader’s dark fortress, where the fearsome Sith Lord, Darth Vader himself serves as your guide; players must perfect their lightsaber skills against terrifying new enemies and master the Force as they discover the mystery of an ancient truth beneath the fiery surface of Mustafar.

The third episode completes players’ journey; players are now fully trained in the Force and must mount an assault on Darth Vader’s Mustafar fortress, facing droves of Imperial Stormtroopers and a vindictive Imperial officer along the way. And of course, a lightsaber battle with the dark lord himself in a “heart-stopping lightsaber battle that will determine Mustafar’s fate.”

Perfect news for Star Wars Day, right? May the 4th be with you. Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series will release sometime this summer for the Playstation VR. More info as it becomes available.

Written By

Ninja Gaiden was my rite of passage at an early age. After finally beating that game (and narrowly dodging carpal tunnel) I decided to write about my gaming exploits. These days I enjoy roguelikes and anything Pokemon but I'll always dust off Super Mario RPG, Donkey Kong Country and StarFox 64 from time to time to bask in their glory.

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