BAFTA award-winning drama series Peaky Blinders will be received a new drama-based VR game in 2020 from new VR studio Maze Theory. Ancillary rights owners Endemol Shine Group and series producer Caryn Mandabach Productions have partnered with the new technology startup to produce a cutting edge experience based on the hit show, which will have players interactive with fan-favorite characters from the series.
The announcement comes after the reveal of several recipients of a grant from the UK government's Audience of the Future Program. The grant will be helping the developers to push AI technology to the cutting edge, allowing player/NPC interactions which haven't been possible in the past. The new technology will allow characters to react to the player in real time, reacting to body language, movement, gestures, and voice, giving each player a completely unique individual experience. The new AI technology is thought to produce a much more human-like reaction from NPC characters than previous game technology has allowed for.
The game will feature not only famous characters from the series but also brand new characters as well and will give fans a chance to take part in the dark underground world of Birmingham street gangs. If the player successfully completes a covert mission for the titular gang then they will receive their own razor-lined cap and join the blinders themselves. As well as characters the game will feature famous locations from the series, including the famous Garrison Road pub and the Peaky Blinders' betting shop.
The new Peaky Blinders game was announced around at the same time as a new Wallace & Gromit AR title and is getting funding from the same grant. Greg Clarke, UK business secretary, said:
“Success stories like Oscar-winning Wallace and Gromit and BAFTA-winning Peaky Blinders are part of the reason why our creative industries are truly world-leading – attracting audiences both here in the UK and internationally and helping create a sector already worth some £100 billion to our economy. It’s why through our modern Industrial Strategy we’re investing to build on this huge global demand for UK creative content and ensure we lead the world in the next generation of entertainment.”This isn't the only Peaky Blinders game in the work either. Curve Digital also has a Peaky Blinders game coming in 2020, that will presumably not be virtual reality-based. The Peaky Blinders VR game will release in Spring 2020 and will be available across all VR platforms.
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