Sansar®, the world’s leading social VR platform, today announced its availability for download on Viveport, HTC Vive’s global platform and app store. This marks the first time the platform can be downloaded from a VR store, and will allow users access to new and exciting environments inspired by Steven Spielberg’s new action adventure, “Ready Player One,” now in theaters.
Aech’s Basement, a central location in the beloved Ernest Cline novel, is brought to breathtaking life in Sansar’s latest experience, which interprets the original ILM design for “Ready Player One.” This new space joins Aech’s Garage, already available to Sansar users, and comes to life through a collaboration with “Ready Player One,” Vive, and Intel. Visitors can test their 80s pop culture know-how as they peruse Aech’s collection and hear from Aech, voiced by actress and Emmy-winning writer Lena Waithe - creator of Showtime’s “The Chi” and star of Netflix’s “Master of None.”
Currently in Beta, Sansar immerses users in one-of-a-kind social VR experiences, where they can host events and live stream watch parties, explore and create new spaces, and connect with friends from around the world. Developed by Linden Lab, the company behind the groundbreaking virtual world Second Life, Sansar is free to use, available for download on PC, and compatible with HTC Vive and Oculus Rift.
“Viveport has always recognized the value of transformative virtual experiences, and we couldn’t be happier to partner with them in sharing Sansar with the world and expanding its reach,” says Ebbe Altberg, CEO of Linden Lab.
“We’re excited to bring Sansar’s boundary-pushing VR content to Viveport, and we look forward to sharing unforgettable experiences inspired by ‘Ready Player One’ with our users,” says Rahul Sandil, VP of Marketing at Viveport.
Bringing amazing spaces like these to life and to anyone in the world via desktop or VR rig is what Sansar is all about. Sansar users can access the experience for free.
Consumers with an HTC Vive headset can download Sansar on Viveport today.
About Linden Lab
Linden Lab develops platforms that empower people to create, share, and benefit from virtual experiences. Founded in 1999, the company first launched Second Life, the groundbreaking virtual world enjoyed by millions around the globe, in 2003, which has since gone on to boast nearly two billion user creations and a vibrant $500 million (USD) economy. The company further expanded its portfolio in 2013 with Blocksworld, a lighthearted build-and-play system, and in 2017 with the public beta of Sansar, a free platform making social VR more accessible and immersive, available on Windows PCs and compatible with HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. For more about Linden Lab, its products, and career opportunities, visit its website.
About HTC VIVE™
VIVE is a first-of-its-kind virtual reality platform, built and optimized for room-scale VR and true-to-life interactions. Delivering on the promise of VR with game-changing technology and best-in-class content, VIVE has created the strongest ecosystem for VR hardware and software, bringing VR to consumers, developers and enterprises alike. The VIVE ecosystem is built around the best VR hardware in market, supported by VIVE X, a $100 million accelerator for VR and related technology start-ups, Viveport, a global platform and app store with the world's first VR subscription model that operates in more than 60 countries, and VIVE Studios, its VR content development and publishing initiative. For more information on VIVE, please visit www.vive.com.
About "Ready Player One"
From filmmaker Steven Spielberg comes the action adventure “Ready Player One,” based on Ernest Cline’s bestseller of the same name. Spielberg directed the film from a screenplay by Zak Penn and Ernest Cline. Donald De Line, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Spielberg and Dan Farah produced the film, with Adam Somner, Daniel Lupi, Chris deFaria and Bruce Berman serving as executive producers. The film stars Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Lena Waithe, T.J. Miller, Philip Zhao, Win Morisaki, Hannah John-Kamen, with Simon Pegg and Mark Rylance.
Warner Bros. Pictures and Amblin Entertainment present, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, an Amblin Production, a De Line Pictures Production, a Steven Spielberg Film, “Ready Player One.” Opening on Thursday, March 29, 2018 in 2D and 3D in select theatres and IMAX®, the film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures. This film has been rated PG-13.