The 5G Sith Jet Trooper Experience was a truly innovative augmented reality (AR) live event. It was a collaboration between ILMxLAB, RYOT Studios from Verizon, and Walt Disney Studios StudioLAB, and it debuted at the premiere of Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker. This groundbreaking AR project leveraged RYOT's advanced motion capture technology, combined with the speed of 5G internet, to provide real-time rendering of two actors who interacted directly with attendees. These actors, on a large LED screen, would even interrogate the guests. The Sith Jetpack Troopers were capable of giving individualized answers to each guest with very little delay. Despite the motion capture studio being located 15 miles away from the movie premiere, the troopers' interactions felt like they were happening in the same physical space. After the interaction, guests received an AR video that captured their brief conversation, showing the Sith Troopers emerging from the airlock and approaching them. The experience was more than just short, improvised interactions centered around remarks about the premiere attendees' clothing. It also involved pointed questions about the presence of Resistance fighters, and other lines provided to the actors by directors on site. The experience also incorporated several pre-programmed animations that the performers could react to. These animations included lightning flashing across the stormy skies of Exegol, a group of Sith troopers running through the hangar, and the Jetpacks being used by the Jetpack Troopers to hover or fly into the scene. Once users finished their interaction, they could use a terminal to input their contact information in order to receive the augmented reality video of their interaction. The augmented reality effect, which used hundreds of photos, enhanced the sense of immersion by placing the troopers within the actual physical set of the experience. While guests entered their information, they were able to watch a smaller screen that displayed a live, behind-the-scenes feed of the actors performing in the motion capture studio.
The experience was rendered in real-time using Unreal Engine from Epic Games. Hunter Smith, Verona Blue, and Alan Maxson performed the roles of the two Sith jet troopers, using their motion capture and vocal talents to bring the characters to life. Although it was associated with the premiere of Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker and involved Matt Martin, the official status of this event within the Star Wars canon has not been confirmed.