Warship Mars

This VR app enables users to experience a modern-day diving expedition to explore the historic wreck of the Swedish flagship Mars, which met its catastrophic fate in 1564 after a fierce naval battle. Sunken near the island of Öland, the Mars was a behemoth of naval engineering with over a hundred guns, which was rediscovered in 2011 by Ocean Discovery following a twenty-year search.

The app utilizes a detailed photogrammetry model of the wrecksite, captured during multiple dives and processed meticulously over 2 years by Ingemar Lundgren, processed for VR use by our partners at Realities.io and then turned into an interactive experience by Prefrontal Cortex. It offers two modes: diving and researcher. In diving mode, participants use virtual diving gear, such as a diving computer and an underwater camera, to explore the wreck and document artifacts. Transitioning to researcher mode upon ’resurfacing’, users analyze their findings, engaging in missions that explore different facets of the Mars’s history—its firepower, crew, and structure. Successful missions unlock real-world photographs from diving expeditions, 3D reconstructions, and extensive historical details about the ship. Dive into the past and uncover secrets of the deep with this immersive VR journey.