Players control two dolphins, Jupiter and her partner, Mars, as they navigate the devastating, still-functioning industrial legacy that humans left behind. Jupiter and Mars must use their wits and unique abilities to solve organic, environmental puzzles. Throughout their adventure Jupiter and Mars enlist the help of the Elders—an ancient race of powerful whales—to assist them in their quest to disable these still-active remnants of mankind’s past scattered around the world. The relics are preventing the once-vibrant oceans and reefs from being restored to full health, and it’s up to Jupiter and Mars to set things right.

While it’s playable in non-VR, it really shines when you put the headset on. You’re suddenly in a vibrant, pulsating underwater world where you’ll see familiar places in an all-new context, and that’s pretty exciting when you’re in a virtual reality setting. We’re really putting the work in to make this a 360-degree experience, offering equal parts visuals, audio, and haptic feedback.

Everywhere you look are sunken remnants of mankind’s past, populated by sea creatures big and small, and illuminated by evolved lifeforms that have assimilated into their being centuries worth of chemicals, plastics, metals and everything else humans have dumped in the oceans. While the world’s oceans have begun to reclaim and restore themselves, some particularly stubborn remnants of mankind’s technological past still remain. It’s up to our heroes, Jupiter and Mars, two evolved dolphins (one player-controlled, the other your hybrid player-controlled/AI partner) to make things right.

“Virtual reality enables us to create a compelling underwater sci-fi world in which to tell the fable of Jupiter and Mars. It’s the ideal medium for visiting a world that is otherwise difficult for humans to explore without a lot of heavy equipment for breathing in the ocean,” said James Mielke, the creative director of Tigertron. “As a scuba diver, the topic of ocean pollution, species extinction, and coral reef bleaching is near and dear to my heart, and this game allows us to raise awareness of the issues in a thoughtful and positive manner.”

In addition to presenting a compelling, futuristic underwater world in which once-familiar environments have been submerged and subjected to the ravages of time, Jupiter & Mars offers a combination of exploration, puzzle-solving, action, and mystery.

“This game is also an opportunity for us to explore the relationship between the two main characters, Jupiter and Mars,” Mielke said. “Usually games position the player behind a central character, but as a big fan of games like Ico and Panzer Dragoon, I’m more interested in exploring the relationship and bond that forms between two characters. With Jupiter & Mars we hope to present two characters that players can learn to love in a dynamic, ocean setting.”

"Jupiter & Mars is inspired by topics like climate change and plastic pollution. We’re not going to hit you over the head with overt messaging, or trip into the realm of edutainment. Instead, we’re taking modern, ecological concerns and designing cutting-edge games around these scenarios in the hopes of creating thought-provoking game worlds that simply inspires players to wonder “Could this happen?”"

“With all of the real environmental issues affecting the planet, I’ve been very concerned with the life I’m leaving behind for my children” said Tigertron creative director James Mielke, who previously worked on games at Japanese development studios Q Entertainment and Q-Games. “I saw an opportunity to raise awareness to these issues by leveraging the powerful storytelling medium of video games to create compelling gaming experiences that entertain and raise awareness on topics like ocean acidification, species extinction, climate change and more. If we can inspire even one gamer to take a look around at the world they live in and take action, then it will have been worth it.”

Tigertron CEO Sam Kennedy added, “The advent of immersive technologies like Virtual Reality have ushered in a new era of interactive storytelling. Our aim is to create impactful experiences that allow players see the world through different eyes and leave them with a lasting impression.”

Created in cooperation with two Australian studios, Tantalus Media and Wicked Witch, Jupiter & Mars is an international collaboration bringing together a host of talent, such as the game’s soundtrack composer, Jonathan Atkinson, who was one of the core members of the late George Martin’s production team. Joining him on the game’s theme song “Shooting Stars” is Nami Miyahara, a Tokyo-based recording artist and voice actor best known in the West as a vocalist on Genki Rockets’ song “Heavenly Star.

Jupiter & Mars is currently slated to surface in May 2018 for PS4 and PSVR.