Kessler Effect
Kessler Effect is an innovative interactive VR adventure film that immerses viewers in a dynamic, cinematic experience. Unlike traditional movies, it allows the audience to become an active participant in the story. Viewers step into the shoes of one of the main characters and interact directly with a cast of well-known actors in real time.
Through a series of choices and interactions, each viewer can influence the direction of the narrative and shape the film’s outcome. With multiple storylines and endings, Kessler Effect blurs the line between cinema and game, delivering a deeply personalized and immersive storytelling experience.
Teaser
You can watch a short teaser here, but for a deeper understanding, I recommend checking out user-made let’s plays. Please note that only the Chinese free version is currently available—other content is pay-per-view.
Creating the movie
Virtual reality as a storytelling medium comes with unique strengths and limitations. On the one hand, the first-person perspective allows for full immersion—viewers feel as though they’re truly inside the world we’ve built. On the other hand, it imposes constraints, as all the action must unfold in a continuous, unbroken sequence.
The Kessler Effect leverages 3D spatial audio to guide the viewer’s attention. Unlike traditional cinemas with fixed speaker setups, VR headsets allow sound to shift dynamically based on head movement, creating a more natural and responsive auditory experience.
To bring the characters to life, we used advanced motion capture technology—similar to what was used in Avatar. Actors wore facial and body markers tracked by an array of cameras, capturing even the subtlest expressions and gestures for realistic digital performance.
How could I watch it?
To experience the game, you’ll need a PC and a VR headset, or you can visit a VR cinema in your city. The Kessler Effectis available at major VR cinemas across Russia, the EU, the USA, and Asia.
About the project
LOGLINE
By the mid-third millennium, humanity has colonized space and integrated alien species into society. Yet one thing remains unchanged—disregard for the environment. In this new world, the protagonists serve aboard a spacefaring garbage collection crew, tasked with a mission that could determine the fate of humanity. In the end, the power to decide who is saved—and who is left behind—lies in the viewer’s hands.
POV
You take on the role of an autonomous military robot, designated A.U.R.O.R.A. (Autonomous Unit for Reconnaissance, Operations, and Recovery Assistance). Once built for warfare, you’ve since been repurposed as part of a deep-space salvage crew. The team casually refers to you as "Aurora," but your advanced AI, tactical capabilities, and moral decision-making system make you much more than just a machine. As the story unfolds, your actions—and your evolving sense of humanity—will shape the mission’s outcome.
Role: Concept, Story, Screenwriter, Character Concepts
Year: 2018