World’s first VR cinema opens in Amsterdam

Instead of going to the theater to catch the latest flick on a huge projection screen, your next movie experience could involve a VR headset strapped to your face and a whole lot of action.

This idea may sound familiar, and that’s because last year, Samhound Media tested what it calls the VR Cinema, using pop-up theaters throughout Europe. Earlier this month the company announced that it’s continuing forward with VR theaters, and opened its first permanent VR Cinema in Amsterdam.

Image source: The VR Cinema.

But the capital of the Netherlands isn’t the only hot spot. VR Cinemas are expected to open up in a variety of European cities later this year, including London, Paris, Berlin, and Madrid.

Unlike a traditional movie theater, the VR Cinema doesn’t include a giant screen with seats facing it. Instead, viewers sit in swivel chairs and put on a Samsung Gear VR and a pair of Sennheiser HD 201 headphones. Moviegoers are able to turn freely in their chairs, getting the entire immersive experience while watching the VR movie in 360°. 

Image source: The VR Cinema.

For now, calling the VR content “movies” is a bit of an exaggeration. Currently the company’s website doesn’t provide details on what viewers will actually see when they pay €12.50 (about $14) for a ticket. According toVentureBeat , the experience is a “package of VR films that last around 35 minutes in total.”

Basically, the featured VR clips are designed to show off how immersive VR can actually be.

It’s predicted that VR will make a huge splash this year, especially with major VR headsets such as the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive scheduled to launch in just a couple of weeks. And though it’s too early to tell if VR theaters will stick, it sure if strange to think about a cinema packed with people all with headsets strapped to their faces, experiencing the same scenes but not being able to see each other.