Google shoots first with Star Wars virtual reality series

Google goes Jar Jar for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Photo: Disney

Google goes Jar Jar for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Photo: Disney

Google has teamed up with Disney and Verizon to develop a new virtual reality series in celebration of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The story ties directly into the new movie, and Google Cardboard owners can enjoy it on December 2 — but there’s more to check out today!

Alongside the virtual reality series, Disney and Google are launching the Force Within, a global program that lets fans “make a choice to be on the dark side or the light side” ahead of the new movie’s debut. The choice they make will be reflected in all their favorite Google apps.

“Special experiences have been developed for Android Wear Watches, Google Calendar, Chrome, Chromecast, Gmail, Google Maps, Google Now, Waze, and YouTube with added features for fans to discover on their Inbox by Gmail, Google Translate, and Google Search,” Disney explains.

The real excitement comes on December 2, when the “first-of-its-kind” virtual reality series developed by Google and Verizon goes live.

Using the latest VR technology, the series tells a new story that ties directly into the movie, with content created by LMxLAB, a laboratory for immersive entertainment from Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic, and Skywalker Sound.

You’ll be able to watch the series on both Android and iOS devices using a Google Cardboard headset — or one like it — and if you don’t already have one, you can pick up a special edition featuring popular Star Wars images from Verizon stores beginning December 2.