Apple’s is taking its first steps into immersive storytelling with Submerged, a the first ever scripted short film using the Apple Immersive Video format. Directed by Edward Berger, known for All Quiet on the Western Front, the film places viewers inside a WWII-era submarine. It’s part of Apple’s broader effort to showcase how the Apple Vision Pro headset could reshape media consumption, beyond the realms of gaming or VR gimmicks.
The film can aims to deliver an interactive cinematic experience with its 180-degree field of view and Spatial Audio. Of course, VR movies have existed for a while now, but this is the first time we’ve seen such a high budget and level of care given to the field, and it marks the first time this new format has been utilized for scripted content.
Apple exec Tor Myhren says “Vision Pro places you in the middle of the story — inside a densely packed submarine, shoulder to shoulder with its crew. That deep sense of immersion just wasn’t possible before, and we can’t wait to see how it inspires filmmakers to push the boundaries of visual storytelling.”
Submerged is just one of several upcoming releases designed for Vision Pro, with more immersive videos including concerts and sports highlights set to debut later this year. The new Concert for One series will bring music fans face-to-face with performances from artists like British singer-songwriter RAYE. There’s also a planned immersive take on the NBA All-Star Weekend, aiming to provide sports fans with a closer look at the action.
While these projects showcase the potential of Apple’s immersive media, Vision Pro is still a high-end device, priced well beyond the reach of most users – and the specialist cameras needed to make the film are out of reach of most creators, too. But with the iPhone 16 lineup featuring improved spatial video capture, it might not be long before everyday users can try their hand at creating immersive content for themselves.
It remains to be seen whether audiences and creators will embrace these new formats beyond niche applications, but Apple’s latest moves certainly suggest they’re betting big on it.