Immersive VR Adventure for Wallace & Gromit

Aardman, Meta Quest and immersive storytelling experts Atlas V have collaborated on an interactive, narrative-led, single-player VR experience featuring the Wallace and Gromit characters.

Created for Meta Quest 2 VR headsets, The Grand Getaway will invite fans to step directly into the world of Wallace and Gromit and take part in a brand-new adventure. The experience will launch in 2023 on the Oculus Store for Meta Quest.

The all-in-one VR headset enables users for the first time to walk around, explore and get hands-on within the world of Wallace and Gromit.

The project is a co-production between Aardman and the award-winning creators of the VR experience Spheres and Gloomy Eyes at Atlas V in association with No Ghost in London and Albyon in Lyon. It is funded by Meta Quest.

Finbar Hawkins and Bram Ttwheam are co-directing for Aardman with the support of Nick Park, creator of Wallace and Gromit, and Merlin Crossingham, creative director of Wallace and Gromit. Ben Whitehead will again voice Wallace, as he has done for previous Wallace and Gromit projects, following in the footsteps of the late Peter Sallis.

Sean Clarke, managing director of Aardman, said: “The entire studio is so excited about this project, which provides us with a perfect opportunity to do what we love—combining memorable characters and engaging storytelling with emerging technologies to offer fans a totally immersive experience. For loyal fans of Wallace and Gromit, this will be real wish-fulfillment territory—after watching the characters on screen for decades, they will now have an opportunity to step into their world and play an active role in this new story as it unfolds. For those new to the characters, it’s the ultimate way to get to know them, the humor and the hijinks that have made them so popular.”

Antoine Cayrol and Arnaud Colinart, producers and co-founders at Atlas V, said: “Atlas V is aiming to work with renowned IP, in order to have more impact on the audience and touch more people. Today, we are thrilled to bring the Wallace and Gromit story world to spatial entertainment with this incredible team of creative minds. It was challenging for all of us to come together to reach the level of expectations and standards that such an IP demands, but we are convinced that the fans of Wallace and Gromit and the VR community will experience amazing immersive adventures by interacting with these two much-loved characters.”

Ryan Thomas, producer at Meta Quest, said: “Meta was certainly excited for the opportunity to partner with world-renowned Aardman and the talented team at Atlas V on this globally recognizable IP. The idea of interacting and being in the same room with these beloved characters that I grew up watching evokes a sense of nostalgia and wonder that we know Meta Quest 2 owners will enjoy. And for users who are new to this franchise, we’re thrilled to introduce them to this wonderfully humorous and delightful story world through a visually impressive, witty and innovative immersive VR experience.”