Black Friday is just around the corner, and Hulu wants to capitalize on the hype as the American online streaming giant plans to debut a Virtual Reality app to further the interest of its massive subscribers. Reportedly, Hulu is also developing a "groundbreaking" short film in the apocalyptic genre for the platform.
Hulu, a widely popular name in streaming online videos, is set to release its VR app next month alongside Samsung's Gear VR, and then follow up with an exclusive short film entitled "The Big One" when it arrives. Hulu has partnered with Lionsgate Films together with RocketJump and WEVR to bring the title. Furthermore, it will be added as a bonus short for Freddie Wong's RocketJump: The Show.
The new VR app's goal is to "transport viewers into the new world and change the way they experience and interact with Hulu," the company said. The viewer strapped on a Gear VR headset can move around freely in a virtual living room, sit back, and watch 2D video content. Exclusive content is expected to be delivered in the future as well.
"Hulu lives at the intersection of technology and entertainment, and this is a great example," Julian Eggebrecht, Hulu VP of Device Platforms said in a blog post. "Providing viewers with dynamic environments of their choice and themed around their favorite shows provides a whole new level of engagement, which together with our cinematic VR experiences makes Hulu an exciting VR destination."
Including Netflix and YouTube, Hulu is one of the biggest digital video streaming service providers that will support virtual reality with content. Virtual Reality had garnered mainstream interest, but it was only seen as a niche part of technology. However, with the biggest social network Facebook together with Oculus, low-priced devices like Samsung's Gear VR, HTC and Valve's Vive, and Sony's PlayStation VR will soon dictate it to hit mainstream success.
