Science

Lucasfilm's selling tickets to be a Stormtrooper in VR Star Wars

Set somewhere around "Rogue One", it'll be the closest thing to immersive Star Wars until Disney's Star Wars Land in 2019.

Scott Stein Editor at Large

I started with CNET reviewing laptops in 2009. Now I explore wearable tech, VR/AR, tablets, gaming and future/emerging trends in our changing world. Other obsessions include magic, immersive theater, puzzles, board games, cooking, improv and the New York Jets. My background includes an MFA in theater which I apply to thinking about immersive experiences of the future.

Expertise VR and AR, gaming, metaverse technologies, wearable tech, tablets Credentials

Nearly 20 years writing about tech, and over a decade reviewing wearable tech, VR, and AR products and apps

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Scott Stein

Oct. 11, 2017 11:00 a.m. PT

2 min read

An immersive Star Wars VR experience is debuting near Disney Parks to coincide with "The Last Jedi", but it's not quite what you think.

"Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire" is a collaboration between The Void (makers of last year's VR Ghostbusters experience), Lucasfilm, and ILMxLab. The Void was part of the Disney Accelerator Program earlier this year. The ride-like walk-through experience is opening at Disney Springs in Orlando on Dec. 16 (a day after Star Wars: The Last Jedi opens), and at Downtown Disney in Anaheim on Jan. 5.

But this experience looks like it has nothing to do with "Star Wars: The Last Jedi". Instead, it seems to be set more in the time frame of "Rogue One". The trailer, below, makes it look a lot like a video game.

Like "Ghostbusters: Dimension", "Secrets of the Empire" is a four-person immersive event. Everyone wears headsets, but walks through a physical space. We don't know much more about the ride, but according to the press release, everyone plays undercover operatives disguised as Stormtroopers to find "Imperial intelligence vital to the budding rebellion's survival." In an interview with The Void CEO Cliff Plumer in August, other details suggested that "Secrets of the Empire" will blend touch and even smell like the Ghostbusters experience did.

Tickets are being sold now, in case you want to reserve your spot. I haven't tried the experience yet, so I can't say how good it is. But I did get to try the Ghostbusters VR experience last year, and it was pretty fun. And it's your best bet for Star Wars immersion until Star Wars Land opens up in 2019.