We partnered with Disney and Lucasfilm to create a Chrome Experiment that pushed the boundaries of what’s possible on the web, turning your phone into a lightsaber in a battle against stormtroopers on a second screen.

This Chrome Experiment utilized a potent blend of technology to create a high fidelity experience running on a web browser. With little to no latency, every move, every push, every tilt, swipe or jab was matched in real time across the web. All in hopes of escaping faster than any of your friends.

We tapped Polymer’s modular library for a more lightweight build. Using WebGL we rendered 3D environments and objects in high fidelity without the need for a plug-in or long load times. Connecting via WebSockets, we transferred gyroscope and accelerometer data directly, resulting in a low latency, fully-responsive experience.

Translated into 42 languages, the Chrome Experiment launched around the world days before the launch of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, at the height of anticipation for the film.

People around the world didn’t just lose their minds over Lightsaber Escape, they reviewed it, recorded it, played it together and then took it to the next level.

Within 24 hours, the experience garnered 704 million earned media impressions, 35 million social impressions, mentions in 51 countries, and made dreams come true.