Yale BuchwaldAhead of tonight’s Game of Thrones Finale, fans can become the Night King using a new Facebook AR camera effect. While Game of Thrones is already one of the most talked about TV series, HBO seeks to boost fan involvement and engagement on social media.
To create the Night King camera effect on Facebook, the Game of Thrones digital and social media team utilized 3-D scans and textures of the Night King from the show. Creative technology and VFX studio, The Mill, then stepped in to create a chillingly realistic experience that transforms users into the Night King as he’s seen on screen.
Below, you can watch Game of Thrones star Kristofer Hivju’s (plays Tormund Giantsbane) Night King video:
Kristofer Hivju Night King Facebook Effect
Kristofer Hivju wants you to know that Winter Is Here.Prepare for the Game of Thrones Season 7 finale by updating your Facebook app, tap the camera icon on the top left and swipe right now to turn yourself into the Night King.
Posted by Game of Thrones on Friday, August 25, 2017
The Night King Facebook effect isn’t the first time we’ve seen HBO letting fans participate in the action on social media. Ahead of the show’s Season 7 premiere, the network released a temporary Snapchat filter, which let fans transform into a White Walker or use the front camera in order to “kill” a White Walker. Additionally, on Twitter, fans used the #WinterIsHere emoji in order to unlock Tyrion’s Season 7 character poster.
Tweet @GameOfThrones using #WinterIsHere & an emoji to unlock #Tyrion’s #GoTS7 character poster.
HINT: Raise a Glass. pic.twitter.com/7B1qKFRT3j— Game Of Thrones (@GameOfThrones) June 21, 2017
It’s worth noting that HBO decided to utilize Facebook’s camera effects this time around, rather than Snapchat’s (as they did with this season’s premiere). While the effects on Facebook and Snapchat are seemingly the same, the network might be trying out both platforms to see what works better for their audience.
Grace LeDuc
