VR Startup Plans to Bring Norse Mythology to Life with Theme Park Plan

Plans are underway in Denmark to develop a travelling virtual reality fantasy exhibition based on Norse mythology, which if successful will eventually be turned into a fully-fledged theme park unique to Scandinavia.

Known as Yggdrasil, the concept is rooted in the region's cultural heritage and folklore, with the startup initially developing an exhibition to go alongside a VR experience called Yggdrasil GO.

Scheduled for Q3 2018, the attraction will be centred around the VR experience telling the Yggdrasil story, with the accompanying exhibition explaining how the fantasy story matches up with Viking history and Norse mythology.

"If you look at Denmark's existing heritage attractions, they are mainly strictly based in factual history. No one is telling the folklore that is still a part of Denmark today," said Yggdrasil co-founder Peter Würtz, speaking to Attractions Management.

"The Yggdrasil GO experience will not only tell the story we have created, but it will also educate our visitors about Norse history and folklore. We want to teach them about the stories that not even some modern Danes may be aware of."

One example of this is the story of the Daughters of Aegir, which is told as part of the VR experience in Yggdrasil GO. In Norse mythology the God Aegir had nine daughters, whose names have been used as poetic terms for different characteristics of ocean waves. Aegir's eldest daughter Bølge has over hundreds of years become the official Danish word for wave.

"We're trying to open up this cultural heritage and storytelling from our region of the world, which has been so heavily influenced by the Vikings," said Würtz. "With our mobile GO setup, we want to add value to Denmark's existing visitor experiences and possibly even Europe or the rest of the world. This can go not only to existing museums, but also festivals, malls and other visitor attractions. Viking footsteps are all over the northern hemisphere, this has the potential to have a global appeal."

Yggdrasil GO, along with the Yggdrasil story – which is being created by Peter Würtz in consultation with famed Danish fantasy author Josefine Ottesen – will act as the foundations of a permanent Norse Mythology theme park. Additionally, the Yggdrasil story will be used as the backbone of an entire project, which will aim to branch out into avenues such as books, film, television and gaming.

"It's quite a large investment," said Würtz. "We believe that we have something quite unique thanks to our strong narrative backbone. The project will primarily develop into our planned theme park, but we believe it also has significant commercial potential."

According to Würtz, the theme park, which will include a blend of VR experiences and rides in its first phase, has the potential to draw an initial 500,000 visitors annually. Following a second phase of development, adding accommodation and restaurants, that number will increase significantly.

"We are focused on Yggdrasil Go right now," said Würtz. "We're planning to open that by the end of next year. We're seeking an attraction design team to develop our masterplan for the park. Our ambition for this project is high."