Black Mirror gets a VR experience where AI proves to be a nightmare

Black Mirror is becoming a location-based VR experience. Up to six visitors put on VR headsets and dive together into a tech dystopia typical of the series. Instead of retelling a known episode, the "Black Mirror Experience" develops its own scenario.

The VR users visit the showroom of a fictional tech company. A new product is presented there: the AI-controlled robot "LifeAgent", which helps in everyday life, understands the needs of its users and supports them in reaching their potential, according to the announcement. The creators don't reveal much more, but hint that the story takes a nightmarish turn in true Black Mirror fashion.

The experience launches on May 21 in Montreal and is planned to expand to other locations afterwards. The operator Infinity Experiences currently maintains five locations in Canada and two in the USA. According to official visuals, VR headsets of the type HTC Vive Focus 3 are used (see VR headset comparison). The experience is designed for groups and free movement within the space, with the experience being synchronized in real-time between users.

Not a Netflix Production

Netflix has already realized several location-based VR experiences with Sandbox VR, for example for Squid Game and Stranger Things, but is not involved in the Black Mirror Experience. The VR experience was produced by rights holder Banijay Entertainment, which also owns brands like Big Brother, MasterChef, and Peaky Blinders.

The VR experience is the first production of Banijay Live Studio, founded just over a year ago, which aims to transform the company's best-known brands into location-based experiences. The official description of the project states that the experience is inspired by the TV series, but creative involvement of series creator Charlie Brooker is not indicated in the official announcements.

The Spanish studio Univrse, which specializes in location-based VR experiences, is responsible for the design implementation. According to its own website, the Black Mirror experience lasts about an hour, which is unusually long for a location-based VR experience.

The technical platform and equipment are provided by Infinity Experiences, a joint venture of PHI Studio and Felix & Paul Studios. PHI Studio is known for location-based VR installations and has collaborated with Oscar-winning director Alejandro González Iñárritu (The Revenant, Birdman) for Carne y Arena. Felix & Paul Studios, in turn, have been known for over ten years for high-quality 360-degree productions such as Space Explorers.

(nie)