The 3-part Spheres VR series is now available on the Oculus Rift, providing a breathtaking journey through the universe for $10.
A group called CityLights purchased rights to the project after a premiere at Sundance early in the year and it was published with Oculus today. We’ve tried the second chapter, Songs of Spacetime, which is narrated by Jessica Chastain. Games Editor David Jagneaux described it as “the first VR experience I’ve had that replicates a small portion of what it feels like to watch a Christopher Nolan film. I was immediately reminded of Interstellar.” The other two episodes are Chorus of the Cosmos narrated by Millie Bobby Brown and Pale Blue Dot narrated by Patti Smith.
The series is directed by Eliza McNitt and presented by Oculus Studios and Darren Aronofsky’s Protozoa Pictures. It features original music from Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein of SURVIVE (they previous worked on Stranger Things) and sound design by Craig Henighan. The series was created with support from Oculus and Intel with production companies including AtlasV, Crimes of Curiosity and Novelab. Producers include Jess Engel, Arnaud Colinart, and Dylan Golden in association with Kaleidoscope.
“It’s been a dream to collaborate with this team to bring SPHERES to life,” said McNitt, in a prepared statement. “This experience makes the invisible Universe visible as you become the cosmos.”
According to CityLights, the experience will be shown at an iconic New York City location, which is being called the project’s “first residency.” Spheres should also come to other platforms after an exclusivity period with Oculus.
