Marvel – Black Panther AR from Current Studios on Vimeo.
March 7, 2018 – Marvel Comics and Walmart have partnered up with Current Studios to create a Black Panther augmented reality experience. The ‘Explore Wakanda’ AR app, powered by Wikitude AR technology, allows mobile phone users to experience exclusive Marvel Black Panther content within Walmart stores by digitally transforming Walmart aisles into the fictional world of Wakanda from Marvel’s Black Panther movie.
The app, created by Current Studios, uses Wikitude SLAM technology to overlay precisely aligned digital augmentations throughout local Walmart interiors. Stephen Martell, VP Creative Technology at Current Studio, commented: “When it comes to retail, the user experience needs to feel natural. We can’t afford technology getting in the way or requiring explanations”.
The AR experience includes a 3D Black Panther superhero augmentation, however, users can unlock and bring new 3D characters to life by scanning specific displays inside the physical Walmart store. Additionally, users can use an augmented face-tracking Black Panther mask and capture the moment with a photo.
The free ‘Explore Wakanda’ app is available for download for Android and iOS from the Google Play Store and App Store.
About the author
Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix, where he has spent years immersed in the XR ecosystem, tracking its evolution from early prototypes to the technologies shaping the future of human experience. While primarily covering the latest AR and VR news, his interests extend to the wider world of human augmentation, from AI and robotics to haptics, wearables, and brain–computer interfaces.