Star Wars Augmented Reality App

Disney made the Star Wars app available on both iOS and Android platforms. There is no difference between the apps.

Users can choose between three themes: Light Side, Dark Side and Droids. Each theme contains its own GIFs, videos and sounds.

The app aggregates all franchise-related content in one place. In the first line, this is the newsfeed, a countdown timer for upcoming events, the day in history, trivia facts, and Star Wars-themed weather forecast.

It also offers some exclusive content: official videos, selfies with Star Wars characters (users get appropriate costume) and augmented reality.

iPhone users were first in line to enjoy the new AR features. Star Wars Android app came next. Nonetheless, both apps work smoothly offering the same UX.

The app has simple instructions for activation to AR mode:

• Press Augmented Reality button.
• Point the smartphone camera on a special Star Wars poster. Users can either print it or open on another screen.
• Select a character. Optionally, toggle between normal and hologram mode.
• Use buttons to select another character, play animation, take a photo or record a video.
• Save/share the results or delete the pictures from the phone

While Star Wars app introduced augmented reality, it lacks a proper augmented reality game. Sure, users can play with their favorite characters, but this is unlikely a killer feature.

At the same time, the Star Wars franchise has all the prerequisites for a successful AR game:

• enthusiastic, tech-savvy audience
• well-described universe
• a long history of video games (which can be prototype)
• communication channel presented by Star Wars official mobile app

Augmented Reality will be the core technology making it possible for the new game to repeat Pokémon Go popularity. With the right gameplay, it will retain players for a long time.