More clues about what to expect from the upcoming Star Wars: Vader Immortal may rest within another VR story from ILMxLAB.
Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire, the excellent location-based VR experience from The Void, apparently sets up the upcoming VR series. That is according to Vicki Dobbs Beck, Executive in Charge at ILMxLAB, who recently spoke at GTC 2019 (as reported by Den of Geek). Beck described the link between Secrets of the Empire and Vader Immortal as a “foray into connected stories.”
“So Star Wars: Secrets Of The Empire essentially sets up Vader Immortal,” Beck explained. “Whereas in Secrets Of The Empire you were on an outpost on Mustafar and you could see Vader’s Monolith in the distance, now you’ll have the opportunity to go into the Monolith and engage with Vader on his home turf, not to mention have the opportunity to wield a lightsaber.”
Indeed, Secrets of the Empire does take you to the fiery planet on which Darth Vader was born. In the experience, you are part of a group of Rebels disguised as Stormtroopers. You’re on the hunt for an Imperial shipment containing a mysterious item.
Quick note: we’ll detail spoilers from this point on. Go see Secrets of the Empire if you haven’t!
After shooting your way through the base you discover what’s inside; a new kind of lightsaber. Vader himself stops you from retrieving it before you make a desperate escape.
Could this new type of weapon be central to Vader Immortal’s story? We know that the experience will offer a lightsaber battle of some kind so it’s very possible. We’ve also theorized about a new villain that could make his debut in the piece.
We’ll likely have our answers tomorrow. Vader Immortal is set to be revealed in full at a panel at Star Wars Celebration in Chicago tomorrow. We’ll have more details then. The app is due to launch on Oculus Quest this year.
