Samsung will bring virtual reality roller coasters to Six Flags theme parks

Your annual trip to a Six Flags theme park is about to get a tech upgrade now that Samsung announced the debut of North America’s first Virtual Reality (VR) Roller Coasters, using Samsung Gear VR, powered by Oculus.

What this means is that some of Six Flags’ most popular coasters will become compatible with virtual reality technology. So riders wearing Samsung Gear VR headsets will upgrade their ordinary ride to feel even more steep drops, inverted loops and twists and turns with the headset’s gyroscopes, accelerometers and proximity sensors to create a 360-degree virtual reality world.

“This remarkable technology is a definite game-changer for theme park rides and represents everything our brand stands for—delivering the most thrilling and innovative rides and attractions in the world,” said John Duffey, Six Flags President and CEO. “With the addition of these virtual reality coasters, Six Flags will be introducing more than double the number of new coasters and rides than we did in 2015, and more than any year in the last decade. Innovation is part of our DNA, and news in every park every year is driving higher guest satisfaction and building strong momentum for our company.”

According to Samsung, virtual reality technology allows people to become immersed in a totally new universe while riding a roller coaster, and transform the modern roller coaster ride into a sensorial experience.

So, which roller coasters will be privy to the new tech?

The new VR Roller Coasters will begin their launch this month and into the summer on a total of nine coasters across the country. On the six New Revolution Virtual Reality Coasters, riders are transported to a futuristic battle to save planet earth from an alien invasion. This experience will be provided at the following locations:

• Shock Wave at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, opening March 10 to Season Pass Holders as a special sneak preview;
• Dare Devil Dive at Six Flags Over Georgia outside of Atlanta, opening March 12 to Season Pass Holders as a special sneak preview;
• The New Revolution at Six Flags Magic Mountain near Los Angeles, opening March  26 to Season Pass Holders as a special sneak preview;
• Ninja at Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka;
• Steamin’ Demon at The Great Escape in Lake George, New York and
• Goliath at La Ronde in Montreal.

In addition, the VR experience will be included in three new Superman rides, where riders will be fully immersed in the 360-degree comic-book world of Metropolis. The three locations featuring this upgrade are:

• SUPERMAN Krypton Coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio;
• SUPERMAN The Ride at Six Flags New England in Agawam, Massachusetts; and
• SUPERMAN Ride of Steel at Six Flags America in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.