According to Variety, Slate had originally planned on building its own VR-based video production environment, but after seeing Spaces last year, realized they could use the app instead. Spaces allows up to three friends to meet up in a virtual space, and on Wednesday, Facebook announced Facebook Live streaming for Spaces.
Spaces allow users to teleport to 3D spaces, watch videos together, draw virtual artwork and even take avatar selfies–features Slate hopes to incorporate into the show in the future.
Slate’s approach to VR mirrors its existing coverage and brand and is more akin to podcasting than most of the VR content in journalism. But, Slate hopes the new format will offer a more immediate connection for viewers.
“It creates a kind of intimacy that feels very different from a video call,” editor in chief Julia Turner told Variety. “It feels like you are in a new space together.”
