Manchester has been chosen as one of six cities around the world to pilot an IMAX VR experience.
The North-West city was considered “typical” of the British market, IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond told Variety.
The other centres will be in Japan, China, the Middle East and Los Angeles, with the latter set for completion in the next fortnight. The Manchester pilot is planned to open by the end of the year.
Twelve pods in the Manchester Printworks Odeon will welcome customers paying around £8-£10 to strap on a headset and spend between five and 15 minutes watching short movies or playing games.
The pods will be big enough to walk around in and users will eventually be able to interact with the environment.
Gelfond told Wired magazine: “You go into these pods, each one will have a headset in, you’ll put it on and we will have varied programming.
“When we open, one of the things we will have is The Walking Dead.
“Over time the plan is to have content that is related to a movie that’s showing there.
“You could do it before you go to the movie, after you go to the movie, or never go to the movie.”
The technology will be supplied by Acer and Starbreeze and it will have a wider (210 degree) field of view than headsets from the Oculus Rift or Vive.
If successful, the intent is to roll out the concept globally to cinemas, shopping centres and tourist destinations.