Web sling around NYC in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ VR experience

By Keith Nelson Jr. June 16, 2017

If you are afraid of radioactive spiders but want to fight like Spider-Man, virtual reality is here to the rescue. Starting today, you can visit select locations around the United Staes, strap on a virtual reality headset, and web sling yourself around Sony Pictures’ new Spider-Man: Homecoming VR experience.

In the VR experience you will have to zip around New York as you search for The Vulture. The teaser trailer reveals some of the gameplay aspects and it captures the essence of what you love about Spidey. You will be able to toss items, shoot webbing out of your wrist, and fight enemies just like Spider-Man does.

Related Videos

The experience is produced by Sony Pictures’ VR unit, Sony Pictures Virtual Reality and developed by CreateVR. These two have collaborated on placing you inside film-related experiences in the past. Following the release of the Ghostbusters remake in 2016, Sony and CreateVR let you use proton packs and ghost traps in Ghostbusters: Now Hiring.

The Spider-Man Homecoming VR experience does mark the first collaboration between Intel and Sony as CreateVR used software optimized by Intel. Intel exec Doug Fisher calls the collaboration “a new era in Intel/Hollywood VR production partnerships using premium cinema content.” Intel has been working closely with filmmakers on VR content lately, so it may be safe to assume this will not be the last time Sony Pictures’ movies get VR help from Intel.

You will be able to get your hands on the Spider-Man: Homecoming VR experience starting this weekend as Sony plans to show the experience at select Cinemark theaters in the U.S. and events worldwide. You will be able to fight as Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Homecoming VR Experience at home as of June 30 when it is made available to multiple VR platforms. You will only be able to experience life as Spider-Man in VR with the HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and Playstation VR.

Spider-Man: Homecoming hits theaters July 7. Until then, pop on a VR headset and get to web slinging.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Computing

You can now high-five in VR

oculus quest finger tracking coming in 2020

An update to the Meta Quest VR headset is allowing improved hand gestures, which includes both clapping and high-fiving in VR.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerburg has often painted a vision of an immersive metaverse, where people could interact almost as if they would in real life. Meta's ambitions are one step closer, as the company showed off enhanced hand tracking support for its Quest VR headset. They attempt to provide much more natural motions to make virtual interactions less awkward.

Computing

The Meta Quest 2 VR headset is dominating Steam

Meta Quest 2 makes virtual reality affordable

Valve has finally updated the Steam Hardware & Software Survey, which details which components are most used by Steam players. The Meta Quest 2 (formerly Oculus) is by far the most popular VR headset, sitting at about 46% market share.

Interestingly, Valve's own Index VR headset is sitting in second place at around 14%. The Meta Rift S, HTC Vive, and other Windows mixed reality (XR) headsets from companies like HP and Dell round out most of the survey. It's not great news for HTC, whose Vive headset was among the most popular at one point.

Computing

As others hype up VR and the metaverse, Valve may be backing away

Valve Index HMD release date store page leak june 2019 controller base station

As interest in the metaverse heats up, many companies are pouring more resources into virtual and augmented reality -- except one. Valve may be shifting its focus from VR to its already sold-out Steam Deck, according to recent rumors.

Valve insider Tyler McVicker put out a YouTube video detailing Valve's plans (or lack there of) for virtual reality. McVicker points out that most of the company has lost interest in VR completely. This is mostly due to the massive success of Meta (formerly Facebook) putting out relatively low-cost headsets under the former Oculus brand and buying out many big VR developers. Instead, Valve is focusing its efforts on showcasing the versatility and power of its upcoming Steam Deck portable gaming PC.