Aardman is a world renowned animation studio for its originality and its risk-taking found in particular in his many successful animated films and short films: Wallace & Gromit, chicken run and Shawn. The latter seems to be interested in immersive technologies with the release, last year, of the application AR mobile Wallace & Gromit: The Big Fix Up. This time, the next step will be a virtual reality game whose development has been entrusted to the studio Atlas VR who has worked on animated films, stories and immersive experiences like Gloomy Eyes, Battlescar or Madrid Black.
Wallace & Gromit: The Grand Getaway is slated for 2023 on Meta Quest 2 only (we will personally take care to light a candle for the owners of the Meta Quest first name). It will be an adventure game allowing players to “walk, explore and get their hands dirty (or paws) in the world of Wallace and Gromit”. It will therefore probably be a game more advanced level gameplaywe can only welcome and appreciate this initiative.
In The Grand Getaway, the holidays are coming for Wallace and Gromit. Sun, sand and the opportunity to test their latest machine, Auto-Caddy. But Wallace got the date wrong: they should be at the other end of the country in half an hour! There’s only one thing to do… they’ll take the rocket. But a pilot error causes Wallace, Gromit and Auto-Caddy to deviate from their route. Will the holidays be unforgettable?
Several personalities wanted to talk about the game:
Sean Clarke, Managing Director of Aardman, said, “The whole studio is very excited about this project, which gives us the perfect opportunity to do what we love – combining memorable characters and engaging storytelling with emerging technologies. to provide fans with a fully immersive experience. For loyal Wallace & Gromit fans, this is a real achievement: after seeing the characters on screen for decades, they will now have the opportunity to step into their world and play an active role in this new story. For those unfamiliar with the characters, this is the ultimate way to learn about them and the humor and antics that made them so popular. »
Antoine Cayrol and Arnaud Colinart, producers and co-founders of Atlas V said: “Atlas V aims to work with renowned IPs, in order to have more impact on the public and reach more people. Today, we’re thrilled to bring the universe of Wallace & Gromit to space entertainment with this amazing team of creative minds. It has been a challenge for all of us to come together to meet the level of expectations and standards that such intellectual property demands, but we are confident that Wallace & Gromit fans and the VR community will experience incredible immersive adventures in interacting with these two beloved characters. »
Ryan Thomas, Producer at Meta, said, “Meta was certainly excited to partner with the world-renowned Aardman and the talented team at Atlas V on this globally acclaimed IP. The idea of interacting and being in the same room as those beloved characters I watched growing up evokes a sense of nostalgia and wonder that we know Meta Quest 2 owners will appreciate. And for users unfamiliar with this franchise, we’re excited to introduce them to this wonderful, humorous world through a visually impressive, witty, and innovative immersive VR experience. »
The license’s stop motion and cartoon aesthetic also seems perfectly suited for the Meta Quest 2 which remains far too often put to the test with more realistic graphics. Let’s hope that the game is as beautiful as it is immersive and that it offers us a gameplay worthy of the name.
If you haven’t taken the plunge yet, you can treat yourself to a Oculus Quest 2 at the house of Bakerthe Fnac, Darty or Amazon for €349.99. You can also find good PCs for gamers there.