Sphero’s BB-8 droid can watch Star Wars: The Force Awakens with you
Thanks to an update, it'll react when the movie is playing nearby
Sphero’s super-cool BB-8 droid came out months before Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but we had a hunch that the rolling robot would be as awesome as it seemed. Luckily, it is: and now the connected toy can watch along with you.
Thanks to new update pushed out today to the iPhone and Android companion app, Sphero’s BB-8 can now watch along with The Force Awakens and react to moments in the film. You’ll need to have the droid on its charging base and located nearby the screen the film is running on.
Once it starts listening to the film audio, your BB-8 will make noises when the movie version is on-screen, react excitedly to friendly characters, and even act fearful when a villain like Kylo Ren is in view. The connected app will also spotlight characters as they appear in the film.
Today’s app update isn’t the only enhancement Sphero’s BB-8 has seen since the release last autumn, beyond the usual array of bug fixes. It also was upgraded with official movie sound effects, plus Sphero debuted a wristband that lets you control BB-8’s movements with The Force (arm gestures, actually), although it doesn’t seem to be available just yet.
The new Watch With Me feature is timed for today’s U.S. release of The Force Awakens on Blu-ray and DVD, following last week’s digital debut, but it won’t be as helpful for UK fans: the digital version releases here on 11 April, with the physical versions following a week later on 18 April.
[Sources: The Wall Street Journal via The Verge]
Andrew Hayward
Freelance Writer 
