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Disney launches Star Wars app with augmented reality, minigames, and more
The Walt Disney Company released a new Star Wars app today that gives users access to news feeds, mini-games, selfie tools, augmented reality features, and more. The new free app, which Disney has dubbed “your official mobile connection to a galaxy far, far away,” launched today on iOS and Android, and as far as movie tie-in apps go—most of which are usually terrible—this one has a lot to offer.
After downloading the app, you can choose between three different themes: Dark Side, Light Side, or Droid. Aside from a feed of Star Wars related news and a running countdown to the release of the new film, the app includes access to libraries of official videos, as well as gifs and a sound bites taken from the films and animated series. While the sound board is fun to play around with, the gifs are unfortunately of Tumblr quality.
Perhaps some of the most exciting tools on the app are its augmented reality features, which include projected images of characters from the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens film, including a stormtrooper and the new BB-8 droid. The app promises to add new characters in the near future, likely as a lead up to the new film.
There is also an augmented reality minigame called “Force Trainer,” which allows you deflect blaster bolts by tilting your smartphone (as if you have never pretended your phone were a lightsaber before).
According to Disney, there will be more features added to the app in the coming months.
“Always in motion is the future,” the website for the app says. “This app will continue to grow, evolve, and become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.”
The app has arrived during a big year for Star wars fans. The seventh film in the franchise is set to release on December 18, which will be the first non-animated Star Wars title released by Disney since its acquisition of Lucasfilm Ltd LLC in 2012. This year will also see the long awaited release of a new Star Wars: Battlefront game, which will be arriving on November 17 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC.
You can watch a trailer for the new Star Wars app below:
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