Israeli-designed extended reality installation to launch at Palace of Versailles

Israeli companies Yaturu and Yalla Digital are partnering with France's Firstep Production to launch an extended reality (XR) tourism venture at the Palace of Versailles. Titled "Light of Liberty," the installation uses XR headsets to allow visitors to experience 18th-century history, immersing them in naval battles and secret diplomacy alongside figures like Benjamin Franklin and George Washington.

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Visitors do much more than just learn about the alliance between France and America; they feel it in their whole body, in every movement.

Unlike virtual reality, XR enables users to interact with the historical environment while remaining connected to the physical palace. Yaturu CEO Udi Regonis stated, "The XR experience we developed allows people to remain connected to the physical space of this magnificent palace while embedding within it an interactive layer that brings history to life." The project was developed in six months, involving content creation, game design, and production. However, implementing the installation at the highly regarded Palace of Versailles presents significant logistical challenges, including managing tourists, equipment, and staff.

Shlomo Balas, Yaturu's VP of Production and Content, highlighted the unique demands of the venue: "This is a living, renowned, sensitive site, where every aspect of the experience is held to an exceptionally high international standard." He also described spatial storytelling as a new narrative frontier, requiring creators to "step outside the frame" and build stories that unfold in physical space, allowing visitors to explore and discover independently.

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This is a living, renowned, sensitive site, where every aspect of the experience is held to an exceptionally high international standard.

The collaboration coincides with the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence and the French-American alliance. It also signifies a step forward for Israeli technological development, demonstrating the high-tech industry's reach beyond conventional software.

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Creatively, spatial storytelling is a whole new narrative world that requires us to 'step outside the frame': to build a story that unfolds in physical space, where visitors move, choose, and discover the experience for themselves.