It’s Elementary my Dear Watson. . . Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Hung Parliament Launches for Meta Quest on June 15.

Immersive theatre pioneers Les Enfants Terribles and VR trailblazers vrisch are thrilled to announce that the live-action VR deducted adventure Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Hung Parliament, a live-motion VR deductive adventure for one to four players will fully launch for Meta Quest  on June 15th 2023 via the App Lab store. 

Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Hung Parliament is an original single or multiplayer deductive adventure and the first VR game to feature interactive live-action FMV with professional theatre actors. On your journey, you can interrogate characters and visit locations to scour for clues to unravel the mystery. Play alone or with up to three other players to visit crime scenes all over London, then meet in the ‘Mind Fortress’ to construct a case against your prime suspect. The game challenges you to solve a typically absorbing Holmesian whodunit written by prolific theatre writer Anthony Spargo and Les Enfants Terribles’ Artistic Director Oliver Lansley, whose collective work spans books, tv, theatre and Amazon productions.

The concept, which initially debuted as an immersive live production, ‘The Game’s Afoot,’ at Madame Tussauds in 2016, was adapted to be enjoyed by an online audience on Zoom early in 2021 to cater to homebound theatre lovers. The VR adaptation challenged both vrisch and Les Enfants Terribles to push the technology, their writing, and acting skills to create a compelling VR experience like no other. Now the base technology of Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Hung Parliament becomes the template for many stories to come using this new format and novel theatre genre.

“It’s extremely exciting to design a form of narrative where theatre and VR gaming can coexist and benefit from one another, offering both theatre lovers and gamers a new kind of story-based, interactive theatrical gaming experience that brings new audiences to the theatre and to VR, especially younger audiences,” said Gabriella Chihan Stanley, VR Creative Director of vrisch.

“This kind of technology is still relatively untapped in the theatre world, and so we’re excited to be among some of the first to explore the potential. After the challenges faced by the arts and entertainment industry throughout the pandemic, we’ve had to really take stock of what’s important to the audience and, most importantly, our community. That’s why we’re channelling our energy into creating a more accessible, immersive experience that you can enjoy from wherever you’re based, anywhere in the world.” said James Seager, Creative Director of Les Enfants Terribles.

Will you solve the baffling case in time? Can you call on your friends for help? And where is Sherlock anyway? The answers are far from elementary.

The current ‘in development’ version of Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Hung Parliament is currently available to purchase via App Lab and SideQuest. 

Check out the release date announcement trailer here

Download the press kit here

Review code is available to request here (requires Meta Quest / Meta Quest Pro devices) 

About Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Hung Parliament

The Home Secretary, The Foreign Secretary, and the Lord Chancellor have all been found hanging in their own chambers. Each victim died on their birthday. On that day, they all received a card with a mysterious quote written on it, and now the Prime Minister himself has received one; but what does this mean? Where’s Sherlock? And will you be able to solve the case before the clock strikes midnight and the murderer strikes again?

Combining the worlds of immersive theatre and cutting-edge VR video technology, Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Hung Parliament is a unique Meta experience that can be enjoyed over and over again.

Features:

• Immerse yourself in the world of Sherlock Holmes, examine crime scenes with his famous magnifying glass and learn all about the case from Doctor Watson himself.
• Visit Holmes’ ‘Mind Fortress’ to construct your case using the clues you have picked up at the locations spread around London.
• Play with up to three other friends to pool your deductive skills and solve the case.
• Meet and interrogate a collection of malevolent misfits, all of whom have good reason to carry out such diabolical deeds.
• The clock is ticking, and the killer must be found before the Prime Minister himself falls foul of the fiendish felon.
• Experience this unique mix of VR deduction game, live performances and an enthralling adventure with the world’s most famous fictional detective.

Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Hung Parliament will be available via the AppLab store for Meta Quest and Meta Quest Pro devices on June 15th 2023. 

For all the latest information, follow Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Hung Parliament on the official social channels Twitter | Discord | YouTube and the official company websites at http://lesenfantsterribles.co.uk/ | https://www.vrisch.com/en