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New Immersive Content (Not Yet?) Coming to Vision Pro

New Immersive Content (Not Yet?) Coming to Vision Pro
Three versions of Apple's press release about new immersive content coming to the Vision Pro. Each slightly different. All ultimately confusing.

On July 18, Apple put out a press release announcing "new Apple immersive video series, films, concerts and more set to premiere on Apple Vision Pro"

Exciting! 🎉

At the top of the news release, under the featured image, Apple states, "Starting today..."

They go on to say, "Boundless, a new series that invites viewers to experience once-in-a-lifetime trips from wherever they are, premieres at 6 p.m. PT today, July 18, with 'Hot Air Balloons.'"

But wait...

The next day, July 19, I woke up and put on my Vision Pro expecting to be dazzled by another incredibly immersive production... but Boundless was nowhere to be found in the Apple TV app. Maybe I needed to reboot and/or restart the app?

Nope, still nothing.

A couple of days after the announcement, I still couldn't see it, so I reached out to Apple Support to find out if there was an issue. All they could tell me, however, was "we don't know, it might air at different times in different countries?" (paraphrasing).

I posted on Mastodon, and a couple of folk responded with equal uncertainty about what was happening with this new immersive content outside the US.

Then, someone pointed out that the Japanese version of the press release included some additional wording that was absent from the English version:

🇯🇵
"Boundless, a new series that takes viewers everywhere on the travel experiences of a lifetime, will premiere in the U.S. today, July 18 at 6 p.m. Pacific time with "Hot Air Balloons," and will be available globally this fall." [via Google Translate, emphasis added]

Intrigued, I re-read the English version of the press release. Maybe there was something in the small print? Well, yes: The two final bullet points stated:

"These Apple Immersive Video pieces are available at no additional cost from the Apple TV app in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, the U.K., and the U.S."

...which makes it sound like all territories are indeed getting the content, but then:

"New Apple Immersive Video pieces debut in U.S. English with subtitles in additional languages. Title availability varies by country or region." [emphasis added]

...which means all regions aren't getting everything at the same time.

So why did the English version not state that more clearly?

Maybe because it was the US English version, only applicable in the States?

So I looked to see if there was a specific UK version of the press release. Indeed there was. It said:

🇬🇧
"Boundless, a new series that invites viewers to experience once-in-a-lifetime trips from wherever they are, premieres at 6 p.m. PT today, July 18 in the U.S. with "Hot Air Balloons."" [emphasis added]

OK, it's premiering "in the US" on July 18 (and by deduction, not elsewhere) but this is the UK press release, and it doesn't tell us when we'll be able to watch it in the UK.

Elsewhere in the UK release, Apple confusingly states a number of things...

🇬🇧
Under the featured image: "Starting today, new Apple Immersive Video content premieres on Apple Vision Pro." – not true in the UK (the Japanese version also says this, and it doesn't appear to be true in Japan either).

2nd paragraph: "Elevated, an aerial travel series that whisks viewers around iconic vistas from staggering heights, will launch later this year." – a bit vague? Let's read on...

Boundless image caption: "Boundless premieres today with “Hot Air Balloons,” transporting viewers to Cappadocia, Türkiye." – also not true in the UK.

Next paragraph: "This August, Apple releases the second episode of Wild Life" and for the picture caption: "The next episode of Wild Life, “Elephants,” premieres in August." – update, 2nd September: Also not true in the UK

Next paragraph: "In the inaugural episode of Elevated, an aerial travel series that premieres this September" and in the picture caption for Elevated: "The first episode of Elevated, “Hawaii,” will debut in September." – so why didn't the 2nd paragraph say this? Given other UK release dates, I don't trust this either.

Finally, for Submerged and 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend, Apple says "this fall," and for An Immersive Experience With The Weeknd and Red Bull: Big Wave Surfing, Apple is claiming "later this year."

Deciphering all this, Vision Pro owners in the UK – and those in other countries outside the US? Who knows! 🤷 – should get to enjoy this content in...

  • Wild Life (episode 2) – August? [update, 2nd September: Nope!]
  • Elevated (episode 1) – September?
  • Boundless (episode 1), Submerged and 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend – September, October or November
  • An Immersive Experience With The Weeknd and Red Bull: Big Wave Surfing – December (because Apple says "later this year" and not "this fall").

It shouldn't be this difficult and frustrating to look forward to new Apple Immersive Video content landing on our devices outside the US.