Sabac Fortress VR Experience

Case Study: Sabac Fortress VR – Bringing 15th Century Serbia to Life in Virtual Reality

• Client: National Museum in Šabac Location: Šabac, Serbia Audience: Museum Visitors, History Enthusiasts, VR Gamers, Cultural Heritage Projects
• Service: Virtual Reality (VR) Experience Development – Historical Reconstruction, Interactive Education Technology Used: Unreal Engine, Oculus Quest 2 & 3, HTC Vive, Maya, MotionBuilder, ZBrush, Substance Painter, PC VR & Standalone Optimization

Project Overview

In 2019, Pixels2Pixels Studio collaborated with the National Museum in Šabac to create Sabac Fortress VR, an immersive virtual reality journey into the city’s medieval past. The project brought to life the depiction of Šabac from Hartmann Schedel’s 1493 Nuremberg Chronicle, fully reconstructed in 3D and populated with animated townspeople going about their daily lives. Originally developed for HTC Vive as a PC VR experience, the project has since been adapted to run on Oculus Quest 2 and Quest 3. We are now preparing a new, enhanced version for release on Steam, supporting both standalone headsets and PC VR setups.

Our Approach

Accurate Historical Reconstruction Complete 3D recreation of Šabac based on Schedel’s 1493 illustration. Historically inspired architecture, market stalls, fortifications, and surrounding landscapes. Populated with animated characters performing everyday medieval activities, enhancing the sense of authenticity. Interactive Learning Through Play Audio narration and contextual text panels provide visitors with detailed historical insights. Hands-on object interaction with full physics simulation – pick up and throw medieval items such as glasses, bottles, bread, and other market goods. Weapon interaction: wield a sword or use a bow and arrow to hit targets and apples, bringing an element of fun and skill to the historical setting.

Technical Execution

Developed entirely in Unreal Engine for high-fidelity visuals and smooth VR performance. Maya and MotionBuilder used for character modeling, rigging, and animation. ZBrush and Substance Painter employed to create new assets and historically accurate textures. Optimized for both high-end PC VR systems (HTC Vive) and standalone VR headsets (Oculus Quest 2 & 3).

Results & Impact

Created an engaging and educational VR installation that enriches the visitor experience at the National Museum in Šabac. Offered a unique combination of historical storytelling and playful interactivity, appealing to both cultural tourists and gamers. Extended the project’s lifespan by porting it to modern VR headsets and preparing it for a global audience via Steam. Showcased Pixels2Pixels Studio’s ability to combine historical accuracy, immersive design, and game-like interactivity to create memorable educational experiences. Sabac Fortress VR stands as an example of how technology can breathe new life into historical narratives, inviting audiences to not only learn about the past but to experience it first-hand.