The Big Way The Walking Dead Is Using VR To Celebrate Season 8 Premiere

Walking Dead

The anticipated Season 8 debut of AMC's hit The Walking Dead is almost upon us, and while the network is no doubt salivating over the likely large audience the premiere will draw in, AMC is also looking to further expand its Walking Dead content. Utilizing the growing emergence of VR technology, AMC has released a new VR app dedicated entirely to tie-in material to its various shows. With the app, fans will have access to a selection of exclusive content -- including a full 360-degree video that puts you right in the middle of The Walking Dead's Season 8 premiere.

After the Season 8 premiere of The Walking Dead, a 360-degree video will release on AMC VR that puts fans in an extended scene from the 100th episode of The Walking Dead, titled "Mercy," in which Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) has a confrontation with Father Gabriel (Seth Gilliam). Don't try to smack Negan, though, since it's not an interactive experience. The video was directed by series executive producer and makeup supervisor Greg Nicotero, with VR filmmaker Kevin Cornish co-directing. AMC teased that more content like this will regularly release on the app.

Before the exclusive scene hits, though, AMC VR has a few things available to help pass the time. The app currently has a four-part Walking Dead series called "Attacked" that puts you in the middle of an attack by a horde of walkers, with you eventually becoming one of the undead yourself. "Attacked" was also directed by Greg Nicotero. The app also has a virtual reality fighting camp set in the world of Into the Badlands. Users also have access to a screening room featuring the latest AMC trailers and behind-the-scenes videos.

AMC's just-launched VR app, suitably called AMC VR, is already available for iOS, Android, Gear VR, and Google Daydream. As stated above, it will be the primary home to a variety of VR content tied directly to shows like The Walking Dead and Into the Badlands, and Ride with Norman Reedus will also get some specific content soon. Fans who download the app now will no doubt have some fun with what's already there, but the big ticket item won't be available until this Sunday, October 22.

This isn't the first time that AMC has delved into virtual reality technology, either. The network has put out other 360-degree videos on YouTube before, but this will be AMC's biggest leap into the growing VR space. There are few shows that would be as tantalizing as The Walking Dead in VR, though, but fans might not want to expect as deep of an experience as full-on VR video games provide.

The Walking Dead is all set to air the premiere of the long-awaited Season 8, which drops this Sunday, October 22, on AMC, at 9:00 p.m. ET. Keep up to date on all your favorite shows with our fall TV season premiere guide.

Matt Wood

Matt has lived in New Jersey his entire life, but commutes every day to New York City. He graduated from Rowan University and loves Marvel, Nintendo, and going on long hikes and then greatly wishing he was back indoors. Matt has been covering the entertainment industry for over two years and will fight to his dying breath that Hulk and Black Widow make a good couple.