Ecosphere VR video series immerses viewers in places WWF works

Available today on Oculus Quest and Oculus Go VR devices!

Click to download on your preferred Oculus device:

World Wildlife Fund has partnered with PHORIA, an Australian-based technology studio, Facebook's Oculus, and Silverback Films to create an immersive virtual reality (VR) video series highlighting the places WWF works, and the people working to protect those places.

The three-part series, called ecosphere, guides viewers through the savannahs of Kenya (Africa), the rain forests of Borneo (Malaysia) and the coral reefs of Raja Ampat (Indonesia). Viewers will encounter elephants, orangutans, and manta rays along with the people who work to protect these animals and their habitats, all in cinematic VR.

Behind the scenes

  • Behind-the-scenes photo of a crew member filming an orangutan in Borneo.

    Behind the scenes on the virtual reality video shoot in Borneo.

  • A behind-the-scenes photo of two team members in a boat going through the Bornean rainforest.

    Behind the scenes on the virtual reality video shoot in Borneo.

  • Two bull African elephants spar. They kick up red dust.

    Elephants in Kenya.

  • A behind the shots photo of a virtual reality camera filming a lion lying down in the shadow of a bush

    Behind the scenes on the virtual reality video shoot in Kenya.

  • A snorkeler wades out into the calm, blue ocean at Raja Ampat. There is a camera on a tripod recording the scene in the foreground.

    Behind the scenes on the virtual reality shoot in Raja Ampat.

  • Male scuba diver with an underwater camera descending into the water

    Behind the scenes on the virtual reality shoot in Raja Ampat.

The series is narrated by Emmy Award winning actress and WWF Ambassador, Anna Friel, and is available on Oculus Quest and Oculus Go VR headsets as of June 8, 2020 via the ecosphere app.

"WWF couldn't be prouder of this team," said series advisor Colin Butfield of WWF-UK. "The uplifting messages of ecosphere are important to hear now, as people come together during these challenging times. ecosphere is truly an experience to inform, empower and most of all, inspire action to protect our precious planet."