Users will set foot on the Red Planet and take in 15 square miles (40 square kilometers) of Martian landscape, accurately mapped and modeled from real-world orbital satellite data.

The production has been developed in partnership with NASA, allowing users to journey 34 million miles from home and experience the actual spacesuit prototype, get an authentic feel for driving the Multi-Mission Space Exploration Vehicle (MMSEV) Rover, explore the actual Mars Habitat design and more. During their virtual trip on Mars, users study the planet’s ancient geology, traverse dangerous terrain such as lava tubes, frozen lakes and lofty mountainsides while facing realistic weather conditions, atmospheric pressure and the challenges of partial gravity.

“We’re thrilled to provide people with the opportunity to take their first steps on the surface of Mars without training to be an astronaut,” explained Julian Reyes, Director of VR/AR at FMG. “It has been such a privilege to work so closely with various NASA teams and their dedication to make this mission a reality is truly inspirational. By offering the most authentic experience possible, we hope a progressive audience of explorers will witness the awe of extraterrestrial travel and feel inspired back at home here on Earth.”

Mars 2030 is built using Unreal Engine 4, customized to handle the challenges of reproducing the real-world Martian landscape at optimal framerates and up to 8K resolution. It features an original score from the London Symphony Orchestra with situational music cues designed to heighten the emotion of exploring the Red Planet. Ambisonic surround sound propagates sound realistically from every direction, deepening the user’s immersion.

Mars 2030 gives users the chance to:

• Navigate the treacherous and beautiful landscape with the companion humanoid robot Valkyrie to collect samples while observing the wondrous Planetary Protection Zones.
• Analyze findings in the Geolab workstation’s state of the art VR Microscope and discover the planet’s hidden secrets.
• Face the daily challenge of operating, maintaining and repairing equipment from the Habitat base, which has been modeled after the actual design for Langley’s Evolvable Mars Campaign, including the VR Communications center for reaching out to "Houston" and family members back home.
• Get a first-hand, realistic look at all of the technologies considered for the Mission to Mars and explore the Haley Simulations that provide a glimpse at of Mars as it was 4 billion years ago.

In July 2017 consumers will be able to enjoy Mars 2030 in virtual reality on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR, via $14.99 download; the experience will also be accessible to users without a VR headset on PC and Playstation 4 and Playstation 4 Pro. The experience will also be available free of charge for educators and students, thanks to the NASA Space Act Agreement.