Planet of Sorrow
Nalobi Zrobe, Alfred Muszynski(2024)
Planet of Sorrow immerses participants in a haunting post-apocalyptic world where constant warfare and environmental destruction have rendered Earth nearly uninhabitable. As one of the last people preparing to depart on a giant spaceship, participants are invited to explore the open-air museum town of Sorrow. This eerie diorama-like scene serves as a stark reminder of humanity’s violent past, filled with artefacts of warfare and staffed by veterans who have found a new purpose as cultural workers.
Developed using Unreal Engine 5 and generative AI 3D, this open-world VR experience delves into the symbiotic relationship between digital culture and the military-industrial complex. As viewers navigate through Sorrow, they are confronted with the pervasive influence of military technology on our digital landscape. Through immersive encounters with the world’s lore and characters, Planet of Sorrow challenges participants to reconsider the violent origins of our digital tools and the implications of the military’s influence on the politics and aesthetics of our online experiences.