Virtual Reality Gets More Content: ‘Star Trek Bridge Crew’ Release Date at E3 2016 and Steven Spielberg’s First VR Project

By Mark Rollins
Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg on Virtual Reality. Getty Images

One of the issues with Virtual Reality is that there are many devices already out or ready to hit the market, but the market for VR still hasn't really begun yet.  Because of that, there isn't really a lot of VR content, but that is going to change.  One offering is some VR based on Star Trek, which is something that the technology would embrace, considering the history of the franchise.  The other is from Hollywood master Steven Spielberg. 

Ubisoft, makers of Watch Dogs 2, is planning on unveiling a lot at E3 2016.  E3 is the Electronic Entertainment Expo, and it is one of the biggest video game convention, held annually at the Los Angeles Convention Center.  Engadget reports that the company teased a new VR game called Star Trek: Bridge Crew, and allows the user to jump into the skin of a captain of a Federation starship. 

It doesn't put you on the bridge of the Enterprise, but it does feature a starship known as the Aegis.  The storyline takes place in the Star Trek reboot universe established in 2009 by director J.J. Abrams.  In fact, the mission of the Aegis, is to help the rest of the Vulcan population.  Those that recall that film remember the retcon of having Spock's home planet getting destroyed. 

There will be more revealed about Star Trek: Bridge Crew revealed at E3.  This includes the release dates for the game on the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and the PlayStation VR.  This is surely not going to be the only VR related game that will be highlighted at the big video game conference, and it could be difficult to find one that will stick out. 

Speaking of Virtual Reality, it looks like Steven Spielberg is about to step into the arena.  The director of the new family-friendly Disney film The BFG is reportedly working on an equally family-friendly VR project, according to The Verge.  This project would be for The Virtual Reality Company, which has raised $23 million in funding from the VR studio. 

Spielberg has stated earlier in the spring that virtual reality could be "dangerous" to filmmakers, because "it gives the viewer a lot of latitude not to take direction from the storytellers but make their own choices of where to look".  That is the interesting part about stories that are VR is that they can be told from a first-person narrative, and the viewer can be distracted by something that they find in a 360 POV. 

Granted, this means that viewer will have a lot of re-watch potential, but with Spielberg at the helm, the master director knows how to frame his subject, and has proven it with decades worth of films.  At this point in time, it really is too early to talk about VR content, as it really needs to develop more.  There will be a lot of games in the spotlight at E3 2016, but as far as VR movies, there hasn't been too much news. 

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