Facebook goes virtual: Social network launches 360 degree video system with interactive Star Wars clip

System expected to support Facebook's Oculus Rift headset next year
Users can scroll around scenes with their mouse

By Mark Prigg For Dailymail.com

Published: 14:48 EST, 23 September 2015 | Updated: 14:10 EST, 24 September 2015

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Facebook has taken its first step into a virtual world.

The social network today launched 360 videos that allow people to 'look around' using their mouse.

It is expected the system will eventually work with Facebook's Oculus Rift VR headset.

Press play and move your mouse to look around the video

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Immersive 360 Experience
Speed across the Jakku desert from Star Wars: The Force Awakens with this immersive 360 experience created exclusively for Facebook.
Posted by Star Wars on Wednesday, September 23, 2015

'Starting today, 360-degree videos will begin rolling out in News Feed,' the firm said.

'Our goal at Facebook is to connect you with the people and things that matter, every single day.

'Over time, we’ve seen that people enjoy more immersive content in their News Feeds.

'This is one reason video has been so successful on Facebook, and we’re excited to take it a step further with 360 video.'

Earlier this year YouTube rolled out a similar system, and is working with content creators to make VR videos.

To create 360 videos, a special set of cameras is used to record all 360 degrees of a scene simultaneously.

This means that when the video is playing on Facebook, you can choose what angle you want to see it from.

On mobile devices users can look around by dragging with your finger — or even just by turning your device.

OCULUS RIFT SPECS

Lightweight headset is work like a baseball cap

Each eye has its own screen

Headset has built in headphones

Will use Microsoft's Xbox One controller

Comes with its own app store

Facebook has confirmed that its Oculus Rift headset will cost around $1500 when it goes on sale - although that price includes the high powered computer needed to 'drive' the headset.

Pre-orders will open later this year.

On the web you can do this by dragging around the video with your cursor, and on mobile devices you do it by dragging with your finger — or even just by turning your device.

You’ll be able to hold up your phone and the 360 video will follow you as you turn, looking around, to experience things from all over the world like never before.

'In the future, imagine watching 360 videos of a friend’s vacation to a small village in France or a festival in Brazil — you’ll be able to look around and experience it as if you were there,' Facebook said.

The firm has signed up several publishers to launch the system, including Star Wars, Discovery, GoPro, LeBron James & Uninterrupted, NBC’s Saturday Night Live, and VICE.

The firm also showed off VR handheld controllers that allow users to interact with the virtual world easily.

These videos help show the range of possibilities with this new medium.

For example, Disney and Lucasfilm are debuting an exclusive 360 experience from its upcoming movie Star Wars: The Force Awakens, bringing fans inside the beloved Star Wars universe.

Fans can fly by and inspect the massive debris left from that crashed Imperial Star Destroyer as seen in Trailer 2 from the film.

Disney and Lucasfilm are debuting an exclusive 360 experience from its upcoming movie Star Wars: The Force Awakens, bringing fans inside the beloved Star Wars universe.

'There’s also a whole world of video creators and storytellers who are at the cutting edge of exploring this medium, and over the coming days they too will be able to upload their 360 videos to Facebook,' the firm said.

'We’re excited to see more innovative and compelling 360 videos being shared from these publishers.'

GOOGLE'S LOW-TECH VIRTUAL REALITY HEADSET

Google last year revealed a bizarre low-tech toy - a virtual reality headset made of cardboard.

The gadget was given out to attendees at the firm's annual developer conference, and can also be created at home.

It uses a mobile phones as the display, with a special app to show 3D images and video.

The 'cardboard' gadget was passed to attendees when they left the firm's keynote, which revealed new version of android for phones, TVs, cars and watches.

'With your phone and a piece of Cardboard you can see some pretty amazing stuff,' the firm said.

'We want everyone to experience virtual reality in a simple, fun, and inexpensive way.'

'Virtual reality has made exciting progress over the past several years,' it continued.

'However, developing for VR still requires expensive, specialized hardware,' Google said on the project's page.