Visitors can immerse themselves in the world of Kamigawa using a VR headset.
This Friday marks the start of “Magic: The Gathering Virtual Art Exhibition,” an online event during which fans of the popular trading card game can surround themselves in all things MTG. A first for the franchise, the VR art show is being held in honor of the games’ latest set, “Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty.”
Upon logging into the event, players can explore a virtual recreation of the fictional world of Kamigawa where they can explore a variety of custom environments, each with its own unique content to enjoy. This includes unique card illustrations from 83 recognizable artists, from Tetsuo Hara (manga artist for “Fist of the North Star”) to Yoji Shinkawa (art director of Kojima Productions).
According to project developer ambr, Inc., there are over 200 items to discover, including interactive behind-the-scenes content from Magic: The Gathering creator Wizards of the Coast. Grabbing a piece of art with your motion controller reveals additional information and artist notes. You can even summon the “Dragon Spirit” from certain cards and watch as the legend comes to life right in front of you.
Experienced MTG fans will also have the opportunity to chat about the game with other fans in the “Octagonal Pavilion,” a public gathering space and information center where players can voluntarily share their MTG proficiency level, mana preference, and ARENA ID.
“Because of more people staying at home due to the COVID-19, trading card games have become more popular than ever. On the other hand, it was not easy to find a way to rebuild communities centered around card shops that were divided by the pandemic and to maintain close relationships with fans,” said Hidetomo Nishioka (Esports Community Manager, Wizards of the Coast, Japan) in an official release. “That’s the reason why we focused on VR technology. We thought that virtual reality can help immerse players into this fascinating world, which is the strength of our game, and connect fans not only in Japan but all over the world.”
Magic: The Gathering Virtual Art Exhibition will be open to the public from February 18th, 2022 (Fri.) 10:00 AM to February 24th, 2022 (Thu.) 9:00 PM (JST) 100% free-of-charge. Compatible VR headsets include the Meta Quest 2 (with Link) as well as PC VR headsets. The VR art show was developed by ambr, Inc., the same team behind Tokyo Game Show VR 2021, using the company’s “xambr” metaverse development product.
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Feature Image Credit: ambr, Inc.
