Samsung brought a different kind of screen experience to Tokyo Game Show 2026, using its glasses-free 3D Spatial Signage to make characters from upcoming urban fantasy RPG Astrae Oratio appear as though they were stepping into the real world.
Held from 17 to 20 September at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan, the gaming event saw Samsung team up with game developer NC to integrate its Spatial Signage technology throughout the Astrae Oratio booth.
Bringing Game Characters Into the Real World
At the booth entrance, an 85-inch Spatial Signage display was incorporated into an elevator-inspired installation, presenting Astrae Oratio characters at close to life-size.
Samsung’s patented 3D Plate technology creates a sense of depth without requiring viewers to wear 3D glasses. Combined with animated characters on screen, the installation was designed to give visitors the impression that the game’s characters were emerging from the elevator.
Despite creating the illusion of a deeper space behind the screen, the 85-inch display measures just 52mm thick, allowing NC to incorporate it into the booth without taking up too much physical space.
Smaller 32-inch Spatial Signage displays, measuring 49.4mm thick, were also installed throughout waiting areas and along the visitor route. These continued displaying characters while attendees queued to experience the game.
According to NC, the slim displays also helped with the practical design of the booth, allowing the team to use the space behind the main installation for merchandise storage.
Beyond Gaming Events
Samsung sees the technology extending beyond gaming conventions, particularly in spaces where brands want more visually engaging digital displays without requiring bulky installations or 3D glasses.
Spatial Signage has already appeared in other settings, including Everland Safari World in Korea, where it was incorporated into a waiting area, and the Governors Ball Music Festival in the US, where an 85-inch display was used to showcase merchandise.
Potential applications could extend to retail stores, theme parks, exhibitions and other public spaces, allowing digital characters and products to be presented with a stronger sense of depth than conventional signage.
For Tokyo Game Show, however, the technology offered a particularly fitting use case: giving fans the chance to encounter the virtual characters of Astrae Oratio at almost life-size before even stepping into the game itself.