Disney taps augmented reality for ‘Star Wars’ toy event

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Walt Disney Co will send “Star Wars” characters into the realm of augmented reality next week to draw fans into stores as they release new merchandise tied to upcoming movie the “The Last Jedi,” the company said in a statement on Thursday.

Starting at 12:01 a.m. PDT (3.01 a.m. ET) on Sept. 1, more than 20,000 retail locations in 30 countries will feature displays that fans can scan with their smartphones to reveal characters such as Rey or Chewbacca. Using augmented reality technology, users will see the characters overlaid on their surroundings by looking through their phone’s cameras, and can take photos or videos with them.

Disney is tapping into the trend of augmented reality, or AR, which first gained mass adoption in July 2016 with the release of Niantic Inc’s Pokemon Go game.

The hunt for “Star Wars” characters is scheduled to last three days and will coincide with “Force Friday II,” the day retailers start selling toys and other products tied to “The Last Jedi” with midnight openings around the world.

The retailers include Wal-Mart Stores Inc, Target Inc, Best Buy Co Inc and Apple Inc stores. “Last Jedi” merchandise will also be sold online, and the AR characters will be accessible via some websites.

“Star Wars,” one of Disney’s most important franchises, was the U.S. toy industry’s top-selling property for 2015 and 2016, with $1.5 billion in sales over the two years, according to research firm NPD. “The Last Jedi,” the eighth movie in the “Star Wars” film saga, arrives in theaters in December.

Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Lisa Shumaker


Source link

#USA #News #USnews #worldnews #headlinenews #Breakingnews #weathernews #UnitedStates news #CanadianNews #weatherforecast top news #stories, #hourlyweather #Reuters

               





Related News

Pioneering jazz singer Jon Hendricks dies at 96

John Seewer, The Associated Press Published Thursday, November 23, 2017 1:47PM EST TOLEDO, Ohio — Read More

 

Flynn’s lawyers split from Trump, signaling possible cooperation with Mueller: NY Times

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Lawyers for Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, have Read More

 

  • NCAA concussion settlement now awaits final approval – Sharing #ABC #News Feed  
  • RCMP investigating rash of break-ins in Carman  
  • Get a Jump Start on Allergy Season – sharing the #Weather Channel #Videos  
  • Editor's Choice Pictures  
  • Border officials offering tips for Black Friday shoppers  
  • Paris watchdog win bolsters its fight for Brexit banks  
  • Plow drivers prepare for snow at Mount Washington  
  • Germany reports outbreak of mild bird flu on farm: OIE  
  • Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *