Augmented & Virtual Reality: The New Way To Promote Brands

Augmented and Virtual Reality is the latest tech appealing to both consumers and brands. Consumers get immersed into different worlds and galaxies far, far away. Well-known brands, such as Star Wars, have and continue to take advantage of the popularity of AR and VR to promote themselves. It’s a new way for brands to spread the word about themselves in an interactive and engaging way. Here are a few current examples of some brands who are using Augmented and Virtual Reality to promote themselves.

Harry Potter: Wizards United

Wands at the ready Potterheads! It was announced recently that Niantic would be coming out with an augmented reality mobile game, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite. Users will be able to become part of the magical world created by J.K. Rowling and participate in adventures, cast spells, discover artifacts, and have your own wizarding career. A release date has yet to be announced. Niantic also created the highly popular AR mobile game, Pokemon Go.

Star Wars 

With the new Star Wars: The Last Jedi movie, Disney has been heavily promoting the franchise. They are utilizing augmented reality as much as possible to reach fans and expose them to what the Star Wars universe has to offer.

First, Disney has teamed up with Lenovo to create an AR headset and experience specifically for Star Wars. With the headset, users also get their very own lightsaber and a movement tracking beacon. The only game that can currently be played on it is Star Wars: Jedi Challenges. In the game, you can test your intellect by playing Holochess or your combat skills by battling Kylo Ren. Also, now on Facebook is a Star Wars: The Last Jedi AR face filter. It transforms users into Kylo Ren including the scar and lightsaber!

For #ForceFridayII, Disney promoted it by having an AR #FindTheForce experience through their Star Wars iOS and Android app. Online and in-stores, users could scan special posters to activate unique AR experiences. I tried it and found Rey with Porgs and Finn with BB-9E!

The Walking Dead

AMC is taking full advantage of the AR and VR trend, especially when promoting The Walking Dead. In 2018, The Walking Dead: Our World augmented reality mobile game will be coming out! The game feature popular characters like Rick, Daryl, and Michonne, and allows gamers to fight off zombies with weapons like guns and grenades. Next Games is the developer of this AR game. Below is the trailer for this game.

The Walking Dead has also jumped on the Facebook AR face filter bandwagon. Facebook users can transform themselves into a TWD zombie and share it with their friends.

Lastly, AMC brought show content to virtual reality. The channel now has its own VR app, AMC VR. With it, users can see exclusive content from The Walking Dead including an extended 360-degree video scene from the last season premiere featuring Negan and Father Gabriel.

Blade Runner 2049 

Recently, the sequel to Blade Runner, Blade Runner 2049 starring Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling was released in theaters. To promote the sequel 25 years after the first film came out, a VR experience came out for Oculus called Blade Runner 2049: Replicant Pursuit. In this game, a rogue replicant has killed two of your men. Riding in a spinner, you chase after the replicant in 2049 Los Angeles. The interactive aspect of this game involves moving your head to scan spinners passing by you. Other than that, this Virtual Reality game is more of an experience with amazing graphics such as a giant Coca-Cola can.

Below is a short clip of the game itself (Note: Recorded on VR Headset, no sound included):

This past July, Disney announced it would be releasing a Marvel VR Oculus Rift game in 2018 called, Marvel Powers United VR. With this game, users can become Marvel characters such as the Hulk and Rocket Racoon. Then, users join forces with other superheroes to battle villains. This is another attempt by Disney not only to engage its superhero fan audience but to promote specific characters whose movies have yet to be released like Captain Marvel. Here is the preview video of this super VR game!

These are just a few examples of how AR and VR are being used to promote larger brands. It is a great way to reach a brand’s target audience and get them engaged. Have you tried this latest tech? If not, you should! It’s definitely worth it!

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