'Alien: Covenant in Utero' on Oculus Rift is a disgusting and terrifying pleasure
Lovers of sci-fi horror, rejoice. Just weeks before the release of Alien: Covenant, we're getting something we've never seen before: The facehugger's view of being born (or chest burst) into the world, thanks to virtual reality.
The experience is called Alien: Covenant in Utero and it's a short VR experience launching on the Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR on Wednesday.
That day, April 26, also happens to be "Alien Day" -- a reference to planet LV-426, from the original Alien film.
Last year, Twentieth Century Fox kicked off the annual date to bring Alien fans together much like Star Wars and Star Trek fans hold regular franchise-based gathering. During the first Alien Day, Sigourney Weaver held court in New York City after a screening of Aliens, engaging a packed theater full of hardcore fans.
"With the In Utero experience, audience participation is taken to a whole new level," Alien director Ridley Scott said in a statement regarding the new VR experience. "You get to be a Neomorph, exploring what’s happening around you and within you."
Scott's being coy by saying you get to "explore."
The violent and bloody fact is (spoiler alert), you actually get to see what it's like to listen to the terrified screams of a human as you prepare to burst out of the torso of another human. Then after you emerge from the dead body of the hapless space victim, you also get to see what it's like to chase down your prey.
It's horrible. It's gross. It's very wrong. And it's everything an Alien fan could ask for.
This short VR dive is just the start for Scott, who recently announced plans to launch a separate studio dedicated to VR and AR.
In addition to getting the VR experience on the Oculus Video app, on May 10, the free VR experience will also be distributed to the Google Daydream View, HTC Vive, PlayStation VR and Facebook 360.
Topics Oculus Virtual Reality
