Universal Orlando Launching Spooky VR Experience This Halloween

Thanks, but I'll pass on this one; haunted houses and their irritating jump scares, after jump scares, after jump scares aren't this writer's cup of tea. Crazy psychological horror? Sure. Dude in mask and chainsaw jumping out of a mesh wall? Not so fun. And when you throw virtual reality into the mix, that's a double-dose of not fun; I'll be at the churro stand.

However, there are plenty of people who like a good scare and are intrigued by the premise of virtual reality. And for them, Universal Orlando has the ideal experience this Halloween season. Not to be outdone by other major theme parks that have been busy combining virtual reality into their roller coasters, Universal Orlando announced yesterday that it's launching a brand-new haunted virtual reality experience for attendees this fall.

"I am ecstatic to announce a cutting-edge, terrifying virtual reality experience is coming to Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights. 'The Repository' seamlessly blends custom virtual reality technology with immersive real-life storytelling bringing guests into the next dimension of horror experiences," readsa blog post from TJ Mannarino, senior director of art & design at Universal Orlando.

Those participating in The Repository will be grouped together into teams of four, tasked with figuring out all the creepy paranormal elements of Universal Orlando's story. Judging by the pictures the theme park has released so far, it appears as if you'll just be donning big, bulky virtual reality headsets—no controllers—on your little spooky journey. And if that's the case, it's unclear whether the virtual experience is meant to be interactive or whether it's just something you'll be watching (and screaming at) while standing around in a giant room."This is one of the most electrifying Halloween Horror Nights' project I've ever worked on – primarily because it is the culmination of 8 years of experimental story-telling, drawing on feedback from our vast HHN audience to learn what thrills and chills them the most."

Perhaps the scariest part of The Repository is its price, though. You'll have to pay $50 per person on top of your pass for the park's Halloween Horror Nights admission in order to partake in the virtual reality experience. Tickets for the experience go on sale for the general public starting August 23, but annual passholders can start purchasing on August 16.

- Abdulsamad Aliyu

Via: pc mag