The End of Storytelling: The Future of Narrative in the Storyplex

Creators of immersive experiences in virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality have relied heavily on familiar storytelling techniques used in books, theatre, and film — often with confusing and unengaging results.

Stephanie Riggs argues in The End of Storytelling that in order to develop powerful stories in these emerging mediums, we need nothing short of a paradigm shift in how we approach and conceptualize immersive narratives.

Beautifully designed and explosively written, this book will help you better understand how to approach the exciting medium and get your next immersive project off the ground by explaining:

• Why storytelling doesn’t work

• The fundamental narrative building blocks that do work

• How to think immersively

• A blueprint for developing your next immersive project

The End of Storytelling is informed by over two decades of work in both immersive and classical mediums, and is rich with examples, inspiration, and challenges for anyone interested in, or currently developing, effective immersive experiences. Its symphonic exploration presents fascinating context of our relationship to storytelling, and a practical blueprint for the future of narrative.

Praise for The End of Storytelling 

“Stephanie Riggs’ The End of Storytelling is what every creator working across pioneering storytelling formats needs to read. It’s a perfect balance between historical context and pragmatic approaches, bringing insight across a convergence of disciplines that help lay the crucial groundwork to approaching these new mediums natively. These approaches and thought processes will help our industry progress in a much needed direction.”

~ Yelena Rachitsky, Executive Producer of Experiences, Oculus

Dare you master the Storyplex? This book will show you how. With The End of Storytelling, Stephanie Riggs emerges as a 21st century Marshall McLuhan, proving that the medium is so much more than just a message. Read this and understand how technology merges reality and imagination into the magic of experience.

~ Jesse Schell, Distinguished Professor of Entertainment Technology, Carnegie Mellon University; CEO, Schell Games

“Visually stunning, contextually perfect, Stephanie has written a definitive, must have guide into the future that is now in storytelling. The End of Storytelling gives us the how, where, when and why of how to tell immersive stories that are now forever here. Run, don’t walk to get a copy of your blueprint, a map on how totell compelling stories in an age where enabling technological disruptions are permanent.”

~ Adaora Udoji, Director of Corporate Innovation, RLab

“Provocative, illuminating and exciting. I love the idea of transforming storytelling through the creation of story worlds so the premise was particularly intriguing and one that provided a great deal of thought and introspection. I especially loved the stunning graphics and imagery which took everything to a whole other level.”

~ Michael Jung, Executive Creative Director, Walt Disney Imagineering

"At Refinery29, we have a mission to change the way people see the world, to shake up the status quo, to reflect the world we are seeing around us. Stephanie embodies that vision and has enhanced our ability to do that by creating immersive experiences that reflect so many perspectives and voices and provide greater connection and understanding.”

~ Amy Emmerich, President of North America & Chief Content Officer, Refinery29

Visually stunning, contextually perfect, Stephanie has written a definitive, must have guide into the future that is now in storytelling. The End of Storytelling gives us the how, where, when and why of how to tell immersive stories that are now forever here. Run, don't walk to get a copy of your blueprint, a map on how to tell compelling stories in an age where enabling technological disruptions are permanent. (Adaora Udoji, Director of Corporate Innovation, RLab)

I found it to be provocative, illuminating and exciting. Stephanie's premise was particularly intriguing and one that provided a great deal of thought and introspection. I especially loved the stunning graphics and imagery which took everything to a whole other level. (Michael Jung, Executive Creative Director, Walt Disney Imagineering)

Stephanie's extensive experience across corporations, start-ups, non-profit, and academia creates a unique perspective that has the potential to evolve how immersive creators think about and develop stories in a profound way. (Jake Zim, SVP of Virtual Reality, Sony Entertainment)

What makes "The End of Storytelling" by Stephanie Riggs so exciting, is that it takes the reader on a wonderful journey into the beginning of something new. (Kay Meseberg, Head of Mission Innovation, Arte)

At Refinery29, we have a mission to change the way people see the world, to shake up the status quo, to reflect the world we are seeing around us. Stephanie embodies that vision and has enhanced our ability to do that by creating immersive experiences that reflect so many perspectives and voices and provide greater connection and understanding. (Amy Emmerich, Chief Content Officer, Refinery29)