Star Wars fans got very excited when a video of a new VR game appeared on the Internet, at least for a while. This new VR game is made for the HTC Vive, and it is possible that more will be revealed about this game at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2016 (happening now), or that the game is an experiment that will be finished sometime in the future.
According to IGN, a trailer for a VR Star Wars game known as Trails on Tatooine appeared briefly on the website of Industrial Light and Magic Lab (ILM Lab), and then was promptly taken down. The video for it can be seen below, and it definitely combines the wonder that has swept fans away for decades of Star Wars with something that could also sweep fans away: VR.
For those that are not aware of Industrial Light and Magic (ILM), they are the effects department responsible for all of the effects of Star Wars, and this company was founded by George Lucas himself. They have done the effects for a lot of hit films like the Indiana Jones films, E.T., and other landmark effects films. The game is done by ILM Lab, and is described as a "Cinematic Virtual Reality Experiment", so perhaps this is not meant to see the light of day, as yet.
The trailer for the game does not reveal too much, but it looks like it is designed for the HTC Vive, a virtual reality headset that is coming out in April for $799.
It looks like the game uses its VR technology to put the player into the persona of Luke Skywalker or some other Jedi. Considering that the HTC Vive has some unique controllers, it is good to see them being used to create a virtual lightsaber, and one that also can deflect blasts.
As far as what else will be on this Star Wars VR game, it looks like R2-D2 makes an appearance, and it is difficult to see if this game takes place within Star Wars canon. There is the shot of R2-D2 about ready to shoot a lightsaber like in Return of the Jedi, so does Trials on Tatoonine take place during the whole "rescue Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt" plotline at the beginning of Return of the Jedi? That, or does this take place during the beginning of Star Wars: A New Hope (the original Star Wars film). Considering that the Millennium Falcon was in both films, it could go either way.
Making Star Wars into VR just makes sense, and a list of games that was revealed for the PlayStation VR at the GDC 2016 revealed that there will be a Star Wars: Battlefront VR Experience, according to The Verge.
It is possible that GDC 2016, which runs until March 18, will reveal more about this Star Wars VR game. However, it really would make more sense if ILM Lab released this game in conjunction with the HTC Vive next month.
