New Mixed Reality Star Wars Experience Beyond Victory Unveiled at Celebration 2025 in Japan
New information on Star Wars: Beyond Victory – A Mixed Reality Playset, developed for Meta Quest headsets by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Lucasfilm, has been revealed. Held at the Makuhari Messe convention centre in Japan, Star Wars Celebration 2025 presented this newest addition to the Star Wars world and gave fans their first hands-on glimpse.
Designed as a blend of physical and digital environments, the experience introduces a new level of immersion for Star Wars fans. ILM has opted to label Beyond Victory as a “Playset” rather than a game, positioning it as an innovative method of storytelling through cutting-edge mixed reality (MR) technology. This venture is being heralded as a major evolution in how audiences interact with the Star Wars universe.
The narrative of Beyond Victory takes place during the timeline of Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), focusing on podracing—the fastest and most dangerous sport in the galaxy. The story centres around an ambitious new racer, Volo Bolus, who is mentored by the iconic Sebulba, first introduced in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999). By combining storytelling with advanced MR features, the project allows fans to participate in various racing scenarios while experiencing a deeper layer of Star Wars lore.
The experience is divided into three primary modes that offer varied forms of interaction. The Adventure Mode presents a story-driven experience following Volo’s journey and his turbulent rise in the podracing scene under Sebulba’s guidance. This mode utilises both virtual and mixed reality to offer players a cinematic and participatory narrative.
The Arcade Mode brings the thrill of podracing to life using a virtual holotable setup, placing players at the centre of fast-paced action in a stylised top-down view. This segment aims to replicate the energy and danger of podracing using MR to simulate a tactile racing environment.
The third offering, known as the Playset Mode, allows users to transform their real-world surroundings into Star Wars-themed environments. Unlockable digital action figures and vehicles are integrated into this mode, giving fans the opportunity to stage their own dynamic and interactive Star Wars scenes within their physical space.
Celebration attendees are experiencing the first public hands-on opportunity with Beyond Victory through over a dozen Meta Quest demo stations at the event. These stations feature a preview of Volo’s narrative and the high-octane Arcade podracing segment. Additional VR experiences, including the award-winning Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series and Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge, are also available for attendees to try.
The development team behind the project has emphasised their focus on pushing the boundaries of MR storytelling. Drawing on lessons learned from earlier VR projects such as Vader Immortal and Galaxy’s Edge, the ILM team has incorporated established VR mechanics while also introducing new systems and design philosophies specific to Beyond Victory.
The developers expressed that the project represents a significant step forward in how Star Wars stories are crafted and experienced. The integration of mixed reality allows for a greater merging of real and fictional worlds, enhancing user immersion while enabling new forms of interactive play. According to the creators, this unique combination of storytelling, technology, and gameplay mechanics distinguishes Beyond Victory from previous virtual reality endeavours within the franchise.
The ILM and Meta Quest activation is located at Hall 4, Booth #20-5 at Star Wars Celebration 2025, which runs from 18 to 20 April in Chiba, Japan. The initiative signals a bold new direction for interactive Star Wars experiences, offering fans a fresh, tech-forward way to engage with their favourite galaxy.
