No Animus needed: ‘Assassin’s Creed’ VR experience sends you to another time

By Stephanie Topacio Long December 1, 2016

Assassin’s Creed star Michael Fassbender isn’t the only one who gets to travel into the world of the Spanish Inquisition. Thanks to a new virtual reality experience from 20th Century Fox, New Regency, AMD, and Alienware, you can too.

The VR experience shows the perspective of an Assassin, a member of the secret society from both the film and the Ubisoft video game franchise. It might not be quite the same as actually entering the Animus and taking the place of one of your ancestors, but on the plus side, you can do it from the comfort of your own home or wherever else suits you. The VR content will be available through the Oculus Video app for Oculus Rift and Samsung VR, plus as a 360-degree video on Facebook starting Thursday night, when it debuts at the 2016 Game Awards, reports Variety.

There are other alternatives for getting to see the world as an Assassin as well, so don’t worry if you don’t own the necessary technology yourself. AMC theaters in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, and Austin, Texas, will all offer moviegoers the chance to try the VR experience from December 2 to January 1. Each of the participating locations will have Oculus Rift demo kiosks that fans can check out.

As for the movie, it will follow Fassbender as Callum Lynch, a descendant of the Assassins who is sent back to 15-century Spain via the Animus. There, he has to learn how to fight the Templar organization so he can apply that knowledge and defeat them in the present day. The Justin Kurzel-directed film also stars Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, and Michael K. Williams.

Assassin’s Creed opens in theaters on December 21.

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Stephanie Topacio Long is a writer and editor whose writing interests range from business to books. She also contributes to…

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