Blume Studios VR Expands Immersive Lineup With Two New Virtual Reality Experiences

CHARLOTTE, NC – Following the wildly successful debut of Excurio’s Immersive Expedition, Horizon of Khufu: Journey in Ancient Egypt, two more internationally acclaimed virtual reality experiences are coming to Blumenthal Arts’ Blume Studios, transporting audiences through 3.5 billion years of Earth’s history, and beyond the planet itself from the International Space Station.

The new titles are to join Horizon of Khufu beginning June 11 at 904 Post St., Charlotte. The experiences further establish Blume Studios as a home for large-scale, globally recognized immersive productions and serve as the official launch of Blume Studios VR, offering audiences opportunities to engage with history, science, art and storytelling through emerging technologies.

Life Chronicles, from the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle and Excurio (the creator of Horizon of Khufu), and Space Explorers: The ISS Experience (an Infinity Experiences production from Felix & Paul Studios and PHI Studio, the creators behind Space Explorers: THE INFINITE, which launched at Blume Studios in 2024) will transport guests into fully immersive, free-roaming virtual worlds rooted in science, history, and exploration.

The expanded VR offerings give guests an incredible level of freedom, as all three titles will be available at all times. When attending with others, each guest can choose for themselves which of the three experiences they want. This technological achievement is the result of 20 years of R&D in spatial computing led by Excurio. Its LBXR Pulse platform enables multiple titles to coexist simultaneously, with the ambition of creating a sort of turnkey XR movie theater.

“What’s exciting about these next two experiences is how different they are from each other,” said Tom Gabbard, President and CEO of Blumenthal Arts. “One puts you face-to-face with prehistoric life, while the other lets you see Earth from 250 miles above. They each show how immersive storytelling can make people feel connected to places and moments they would otherwise never experience.”

Life Chronicles

This 45-minute immersive expedition through 3.5 billion years of Earth’s history takes guests from the planet's formation to the rise of dinosaurs and early humans. Developed in collaboration with scientists at the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle in France, Life Chronicles combines scientific research with cinematic worldbuilding to recreate prehistoric environments on land and at sea. Guests travel through volcanic coastlines, ancient oceans and swamp forests, encountering more than 120 primeval species.

“Life Chronicles is the first Immersive Expedition to explore a scientific 'heritage' that concerns us all: evolution,” said Fabien Barati and Emmanuel Guerriero, co-founders of Excurio.

“Immerse yourself in vanished worlds! This is the ambition of any naturalist seeking to explain how our planet has evolved over billions of years,” said Bruno David, Guillaume Lecointre, Gaël Clément, Sylvain Charbonnier, scientific curators of the Muséum national d’Histoire Naturelle.

Space Explorers: The ISS Experience

Built from more than 250 hours of footage filmed both inside and outside the International Space Station, the immersive experience returns, placing visitors alongside real astronauts as they live, work, conduct missions, and observe Earth from orbit. Whether it’s the first time in orbit for some guests or a return visit to explore what they missed, the journey continues.

Rooted in real-life space missions conducted in collaboration with NASA and leading international space agencies, the experience is based on the Primetime Emmy Award-winning series Space Explorers: The ISS Experience, created by Felix & Paul Studios. Through intimate access to astronauts’ daily lives, breathtaking spacewalks, and awe-inspiring views of Earth from low orbit, it delivers the closest sensation yet to being in space without ever leaving the ground.

“We’re thrilled to return to Blume Studios with Space Explorers: The ISS Experience,” said Eric Albert, CEO of Infinity Experiences. “Following the success of Space Explorers: THE INFINITE, we’re excited to continue bringing audiences closer to the wonder of space exploration.”

All VR experiences are recommended for ages 8 and older and will be offered concurrently, allowing guests attending together to each choose their own immersive adventure.

Tickets to Horizon of Khufu, Life Chronicles and Space Explorers: The ISS Experience are available at blumenthalarts.org/BlumeStudiosVR.

 

MORE ABOUT BLUME STUDIOS VR

Blume Studios VR is Blumenthal Arts’ immersive virtual reality initiative, bringing internationally acclaimed free-roaming experiences to audiences in Charlotte. Through groundbreaking storytelling and emerging technology, Blume Studios VR transports guests beyond the boundaries of traditional entertainment, placing them inside worlds inspired by history, science and art. Experiences presented at Blume Studios VR include Space Explorers: THE INFINITE, Horizon of Khufu, and coming soon, Life Chronicles and Space Explorers: THE ISS EXPERIENCE. For more information, visit blumenthalarts.org.

MORE ABOUT BLUME STUDIOS

Blume Studios is where art, technology, and community converge. This creative hub from Blumenthal Arts hosts everything from major immersive experiences from around the world to locally created multimedia events and shows. The studio environment provides the expansive, flexible spaces needed to support current and new forms of entertainment that haven’t yet been dreamed of. Located in Charlotte’s Iron District, Blume Studios continues the legacy of Charlotte Pipe and Foundry, which for more than a century was home to talented and hardworking craftsmen on this site. A new generation of creative workers will make Blume Studios a nationally acclaimed destination where every show is unique and every visit is special. For more information, visit blumenthalarts.org.

MORE ABOUT EXCURIO

Excurio redefines cultural discovery through Immersive Expeditions — groundbreaking, large-scale virtual reality experiences that merge cutting-edge technology, storytelling, and education. Designed for free-roaming exploration in expansive venues, these adventures invite audiences to step directly into history, art, and science, combining emotional engagement with thrilling intrigue. Excurio’s productions have captivated more than four million visitors across 17 countries and 35 venues worldwide — from Paris and Montreal, to Shanghai and Chicago — in leading cultural institutions and immersive spaces. Developed in collaboration with world-renowned scientists and historians, Excurio’s mission is to make culture accessible through wonder. Excurio was founded in 2005 by Emmanuel Guerriero and Fabien Barati.

MORE ABOUT LBXR PULSE:

LBXR Pulse is a proprietary, large-scale virtual reality system developed by Excurio to streamline the creation, management, and operation of multi-user, free-roam VR experiences. Originally engineered to support Excurio's own prominent global Immersive Expeditions—including Horizon of Khufu —the ecosystem was fully opened up to third-party studios like PHI Studio, venue operators, and intellectual property holders.

MORE ABOUT FELIX & PAUL STUDIOS
As a pioneer in immersive entertainment, Felix & Paul Studios has established itself as a leader and innovator in the creation and production of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality experiences. Its award-winning portfolio, comprising more than 30 productions, includes Strangers with Patrick Watson, the very first cinematic virtual reality experience; Space Explorers: The ISS Experience, the Emmy-winning series that inspired Space Explorers: The ISS Experience; and Interstellar Arc, its flagship immersive work that combines epic storytelling with technological innovation, launched exclusively at AREA15 in Las Vegas. The studio also collaborates with industry leaders and visionaries such as Cirque du Soleil, Universal Studios, and Fox Searchlight. For more information, visit felixandpaul.com.

MORE ABOUT PHI STUDIO

PHI Studio is a leading catalyst in the field of immersive experiences and XR creation. We design and produce multidisciplinary projects that explore the potential of emerging technologies to open new avenues for storytelling and artistic expression. PHI Studio is committed to collaborating with artists, producers, and partners to foster the creation and development of innovative artworks at the vanguard, shaping the future of the immersive experience.

MORE ABOUT INFINITY EXPERIENCES

Infinity Experiences specializes in the operation and distribution of large-scale immersive experiences. Our goal is to build a network of immersive destinations showcasing the most impactful works of the moment. By collaborating with bold creators from around the world, we ensure the promotion and touring of innovative experiences that combine artistic relevance with technological excellence.

 

FOR IMAGES OR INTERVIEW REQUESTS, CONTACT TAYLOR MUMMA: 919.830.1580; taylor@rachelsutherland.net