Virtual Reality Uncovers Tragic Mining Disaster in ‘Those From Below’

Alright, let’s talk about this thing called Those from Below. It’s not just a title—it’s an interactive VR dive into a pretty tragic slice of history. So, imagine strapping on a headset and being literally thrown back to 1956, right to this grim scene in Belgium. The developers, Causa Creations—this isn’t their first rodeo with VR stuff—call it part of their MEMENTOES project. They’re all about bringing past injustices to life through virtual experiences. I guess we’re supposed to feel a wave of empathy and maybe hit a moment of understanding? It’s like history class, but you know, not boring.

Anyway, back to Those from Below. It’s all about the Marcinelle mining disaster, which I’m guessing most of us missed in our high school history textbooks. So, here’s what went down: a coal wagon wasn’t loaded right into a lift, sparking an electrical fire. Bam! It all went sideways real fast, claiming the lives of 262 miners. Many of them were Italians who’d moved to Belgium, probably thinking they’d find better opportunities. Well, they found something alright—just not what they expected.

I got to fiddle around with this project on a Quest 3—yeah, during this riveting little conference gig called Reboot Develop 2025. The VR experience plops you right down into the mines, pre-disaster. You get a real taste of the not-so-great conditions these guys endured. It’s like you’re there, with all its gritty realism, which is both cool and super unnerving. They tapped into hand tracking and gaze detection to move you through the story—fancy, huh?

Sadly, my session was short. But the idea of turning these heavy historical narratives into fully immersive environments? Yeah, it’s pretty wild. It reminds me of their other projects about JFK and MLK—those were focused on the States, so it’s interesting seeing them shift gears to European soil.

Right now, there’s not much word on when Those from Below will hit other platforms (or, heck, when it’ll even fully release). But you know how it goes—info will drop when it wants to, and I’ll keep you posted if anything crops up.