Social media platform Facebook is adding a new feature in video-calling device Portal, which is getting a ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ crossover that will allow users to dress up as characters from the play using augmented reality technology.
According to ANI, the AR masks that transform into a character is powered by Facebook’s Spark AR technology andwill also match the user’s skin tone.
“Callers can fully embody the characters thanks to real-time skin sampling that matches the 3D character to their unique skin tone before converting it into an AR mask for seamless integration,” Facebook said.
Anyone can use the new feature by tapping ‘Curtain Call’ in the effects tray on Portal. They can select one of the three locations from the menu to visit: Hogwarts Great Hall, the Ministry of Magic, or the Edge of the Forbidden Forest.
The feature works with Portal-to-Portal video calls for users in the US and UK. And if they don’t have a Portal device, “fans on Instagram and Facebook can still interact with the AR masks via each app’s camera and share video and photos via Stories”, according to the company.