Earlier today, The Highland Council, Visit Scotland, and Activision Publishing teamed up to announce the first ever virtual twinning of a real world location and a gaming environment. In celebration of the release of the upcoming game, Skylanders SWAP Force – SWAPtober – the Isle of Sky in the Scottish Highlands has been incorporated into the virtual realm of Skylands.
Alan Mackenzie of VisitScotland commented:
“The Isle of Skye is renowned for its stunning landscapes, which possess an almost ethereal quality, and its abundance of wildlife, making it the perfect place to virtually twin with Skylands, home to Skylanders SWAP Force. We’re thrilled to be teaming up with the SkylandersTM franchise for this unique partnership, which will help raise the profile of this beautiful part of the world, encouraging families to enjoy a real-life adventure on the Isle of Skye – nowhere else on Earth comes close!”
Skylanders SWAP Force hopes to continue the virtual-real world crossover legacy that has become a staple of the Skylanders franchise.
“We’re thrilled to continue to combine physical and virtual experiences through the Skylanders franchise, and what better way to do so than making the Skylands the first video game world to twin with a real destination,” said Michael Sportouch, Vice President and General Manager, Activision Publishing. “With the launch of Skylanders SWAP Force around the corner, it was perfect timing to merge the magical world of Skylands with the beautiful Isle of Skye. We’re sure this partnership is going to spark the imaginations of families whenever they visit the Highlands, but fortunately they don’t have to worry about seeing any Chompies[1] on Earth.”
Skylanders SWAP Force hits shelves Friday, October 18th.