![[Industry Update] Embarking on a New Era in VR Gaming: ‘The ChicKing Dead’ Launches in Early Access!](https://www.checkpoint10.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Industry-Update-Embarking-on-a-New-Era-in-VR-Gaming-360x180.jpg "[Industry Update] Embarking on a New Era in VR Gaming: ‘The ChicKing Dead’ Launches in Early Access!")
Soul Paint offers a unique VR adventure blending 3D artistry with personal reflection. Unveiled at SXSW 2024, this innovative project by Sarah Ticho and Niki Smit, with narration by Rosario Dawson, invites you to explore and shape your emotions using immersive technology. As a user, you become a 3D figure in a surreal environment, given the freedom to sketch across this space onto your virtual form.
Utilizing body-mapping combined with VR, Soul Paint encourages greater self-awareness and emotional exploration. It aims to cultivate empathy and social bonds by allowing you to share your experiences with others upon completion.
I had the chance to try it out at the NewImages Festival 2025 during a 20-minute session. The experience opens with a thought-provoking question: “Where are you feeling?” Initially uncertain, I soon found myself engaging with the spiritually evocative atmosphere. This ethereal setting encourages expressive movement, offering a sense of peace and personal insight.
While my sketches may not win awards, they served my needs in that moment. You can draw across your virtual self and leave a voice note for others to discover – a thoughtful gesture for when words fail.
Soul Paint functions as a reflective tool in VR. Though the experience is linear, it offers a strong sense of presence and personal freedom. It’s a fresh way to communicate, lacking depth as a standalone experience but rich in tranquil, introspective layers. I look forward to seeing more projects like this one.
As of now, there’s no word on a home release for Soul Paint, but we’ll keep you updated with any developments.
