The Who creates virtual reality app for Oculus Rift
The Who has announced plans for a virtual reality app on Oculus Rift which will launch in 2015 with a limited demonstration for the Oculus developer community before Christmas.
Following on from a smartphone and tablet app for Android and iOS, which launched this week (10 November), the Oculus Rift app sees a 3D world through imagery from The Who world, including rare photographs from Roger Daltrey’s archives, set to music by the band.
The apps are a collaboration between The Who, their management company Trinifold Management, Universal Music and developer Immersive, and tie in with the new compilation album and tour that celebrate the 50th anniversary of the band.
Michael Fenna, creative and production director at Immersive, told the Guardian: “We’ve kept it quite tight around The Who Hits 50 album, but the idea is to expand and use the technology to unlock different experiences as the tour evolves.
“The plan is to add a series of other experiences, including live performances. We’ve built it as an evolving thing: there’s a real chance to tell a narrative in a more engaging way than in a book or a film.”
The mobile app is free – although there could be future in-app purchases – but it is believed that the company will charge for the Oculus Rift app.