Experience Mars through haptics:
The Touch, a groundbreaking immersive experience at Milan’s Museum of Science
We’re proud to announce our latest collaboration with the Museo Nazionale Scienza e Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci in Milan: The Touch, an immersive multiplayer escape game that blurs the lines between physical and virtual worlds. This innovative experience allows players to “touch” the surface of Mars using our state-of-the-art TouchDIVER Pro haptic gloves, combined with cutting-edge VR technology.
A journey to Mars, powered by touch
Set in the year 2040, The Touch casts players as a team of astronauts and scientists on a high-stakes mission to the Jezero Crater, searching for signs of ancient life on the Red Planet. Time is running out, and critical information is fragmented among the team. Only by working together the players can solve scientific puzzles, analyze rock samplese and safely return to Earth.
One player, equipped with a Meta Quest 3 headset and our TouchDIVER Pro gloves, steps into a fully immersive virtual environment, where every interaction (every texture, surface and object) can be felt with striking realism. The other players act as mission specialists, deciphering tactile materials and instructions using physical manuals. Communication and collaboration are essential, as each role holds a piece of the puzzle.
Making the virtual tangible
Touch is the cornerstone of this adventure. The TouchDIVER Pro gloves allow players to feel the textures of Martian rock, manipulate tools and interact with scientific instruments with tactile feedback so precise, it bridges the gap between learning and experiencing.
From exploring a detailed Martian landscape and operating a NASA-inspired rover to analyzing rock samples with instruments modeled after real geological lab equipment, every moment of The Touch is grounded in scientific accuracy. Developed with input from planetary geologist Dr. Nicola Mari (PhD) and in collaboration with Luca Reduzzi, curator of the Museum’s Space area, the narrative offers a compelling fusion of science and storytelling.
When entertainment meets education
This unique edutainment experience launches on Saturday, September 20, with early access tickets available exclusively through Fever starting Thursday, September 4. The Touch is designed to appeal to both science enthusiasts and casual gamers, bringing a new level of engagement to museum-based learning through the power of immersive technology.
Guido Gioioso, CEO and Co-founder of WEART, shared:
“We’re thrilled to see haptic technology reach the public through The Touch, in a setting that combines education and entertainment. Our TouchDIVER Pro gloves transform the virtual world into something tangible, making learning more complete and engaging. Partnering with the Museo Nazionale Scienza e Tecnologia allowed us to showcase the true potential of haptics in creating immersive and meaningful edutainment experiences.”
At WEART, we believe that the sense of touch is the missing link in digital experiences. The Touch represents not only a technological milestone, but also a step forward in how we learn, play and connect in virtual environments. By combining tactile precision, scientific storytelling and collaborative gameplay, we’ve helped create a journey that’s as enlightening as it is unforgettable.
Join us at the Museo Nazionale Scienza e Tecnologia this fall and experience what it really feels like to explore Mars.
