The tallest building in the United Kingdom, The Shard, now offers a VR experience on its viewing platform. Developed by VR firm Happy Finish and using the Oculus Rift, visitors can experience a roller coaster-like corkscrew slide at 100 miles-per-hour that will take them around the tower and over London. Guests sit on a moveable sloped platform while in VR, which uses gravity to aid immersion.
The Shard also boasts a second VR experience, using the HTC Vive and 360° footage collected during its construction. Developed by INITION, and aptly titled Vertigo, this second exhibit puts guests at the top of the Shard and even features fans to give the feeling of wind buffeting players high above the city.
Every skyscraper that dominates a major city’s skyline offers some viewing platform. From Tokyo Tower to the Burj Khalifa, these places often feature technological attractions to justify their entrance fees. But the Shard is unique in its use of VR. Advance tickets to the Skydeck run £25.95, and the VR experiences are free until August 4th, after which they will cost an additional surcharge.
This is not the first time the Shard has been the subject of a VR experience. In 2015, the firm Visualise captured 360° footage from the building and used Gear VR to place attendees in the skies of London at the World Travel Market trade show.
