How GameStop used FooVR’s tech to put animated characters in Destiny 2

Virtual reality has reached the “trough of despair,” according to FooVR founder Will Smith. The industry is struggling with disparity in the demand for high-quality VR experiences and the relatively small potential customer market for those kinds of products. Both consumers and publishers are in a holding pattern until something changes, but FooVR isn’t waiting. Smith’s company is making moves to leverage its interesting animation technology in other creative spaces while still building content for VR enthusiasts.

FooVR’s efforts to branch out manifested this week in the form of a GameStop advertising campaign for Bungie’s upcoming sci-fi shooter Destiny 2. In a 30-second TV spot, a pair of gamers enter the world of Destiny 2 as low-poly avatars. They move and commentate on the action around them before a voiceover talks about preorder bonuses (a widget that keeps track of your kill count) and ESRB ratings (T for Teen). This is actually the latest in a line of GameStop ads that use machinima, or the art of making films with video games, to sell products.