Today, Polish game developers The Farm 51 have announced an intriguing project: the Chernobyl VR Project, which they’re describing as “a game plus documentary with photorealistic, 3D-scanned locations in Chernobyl and Pripyat.” The project is being developed on the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster and will allow the player to explore the ruins of one of the most terrible disasters of modern times with the assistance of virtual reality.

On the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear-power-plant catastrophe – the greatest human-caused industrial and environmental disaster in history – Polish game developer The Farm 51 is developing The Chernobyl VR Project, a virtual-reality adventure that will put players in the role of a documentary crew sent to uncover secrets surrounding the tragic event. From the comfort of their homes, players will travel to photorealistic recreations of numerous areas in Chernobyl and Pripyat, where they’ll explore the Restricted Zone, seek clues about past events and help an old survivor find his family memories.

The Chernobyl VR Project will utilize state-of-the-art Reality 51 technology to give players “unprecedented access to the site of the catastrophe and the nearby city of Pripyat.” While it is wholly intended to be a game, it is meant to be equally educational, teaching players about the history and the aftermath of the nuclear catastrophe, a catastrophe that displaced 350,000 lives. Since the site of the disaster has been heavily guarded and monitored for 30 years, this project truly has the opportunity to be revolutionary.

The team at The Farm 51 was granted special scientific access to areas unavailable to tourists, spending dozens of hours in the area and using its Reality 51 technology to scan locations in Chernobyl and Pripyat in photorealistic detail. Minor details, including paint peeling off the walls, scuffs on an abandoned amusement-park ride, and rust on an old cash register are captured with exceptional accuracy utilizing photogrammetry and stereoscopic, 360-degree camera technology. Players and virtual visitors will be free to explore and engage with places that have hitherto been off limits, losing themselves in a one-of-a-kind, interactive documentary.

The game is expected to be compatible with multiple VR headsets including Oculus, Morpheus, Vive, Playstation VR, and Samsung Gear VR.

You can follow the project on Facebook.

Check out the haunting trailer below for a taste of what this experience can offer and be sure to keep your eyes on OnlySP for more news about this revolutionary project. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@Official_OnlySP).