A “Star Wars” virtual reality demo kicked off Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference in style on Monday, highlighting how new iMacs will be strong enough to support VR.
John Knoll of Industrial Light & Magic showed off “Star Wars VR,” with the user going head-to-head with none other than Darth Vader as they roam around the the volcano-ridden planet “Mustafar.” The demo allowed the user to select several characters or ships to use, as well as change the planet you’re prancing around on.
Watch part of the demo here:
Star Wars VR Demo on stage! #WWDC #HTCVive #Mac pic.twitter.com/K2Rb1RoTY7
— Scout House (@ScoutHouseLab) June 5, 2017
News of a “Star Wars” VR experience first emerged last summer, with the announcement “Batman Begins” and “Man of Steel” writer David S. Goyer would be leading the Vader-themed production.
The updated iMacs will retain their sleek exterior, but the internal hardware update should make it more intriguing for developers moving forward. Oculus co-founder Nate Mitchell had essentially brushed aside a Mac-compatible headset a few months ago, but this news out of WWDC makes it a more desirable VR platform now.
We don’t know when “Star Wars VR” will be available for Apple, so stay tuned.