YouTube shows off its first interactive special in new trailer

YouTuber Markiplier is the star of YouTube's first interactive project, A Heist with Markiplier. The company has shown off the special in its first trailer today, teasing what will ultimately be a choose-your-own-adventure type of project following similar work from Netflix. Viewers will be able to make decisions that ultimately present them with one of 31 different possible endings.

Interactive movies and TV shows are part of a budding genre that largely only exists on Netflix at this time. The service introduced the storytelling format with a kid's show, ultimately bringing it to adults several months ago with the release of Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.

YouTube's own A Heist with Markiplier will star Internet personality Markiplier and involve decisions from viewers who will ultimately choose the direction the heist goes. Sixty-one videos comprise the total project, making it possible for viewers to take different routes leading to nearly three dozen different conclusions.

A Heist with Markiplier is officially a YouTube Original show, one funded by the company for a production value exceeding homemade projects that have utilized the platform. Many people watch YouTube using their mobile devices, as well, gadgets that are particularly suited to the type of selection process involved in interactive shows.

As the trailer shows, the special is mostly adhering to a first-person perspective, something that may be extra fun to watch using a VR headset. The trailer, unfortunately, doesn't involve any of the choose-your-own-adventure aspects of the upcoming series, which will be available for everyone to stream starting on October 30.