Kion launches its first interactive detective series “Reservation”

Streaming platform Kion has unveiled an interactive series based on the detective thriller “Reservation,” marking the first screen adaptation of Stanislav Gimadeev’s novel “The Parity Principle.” All five episodes are available exclusively on VK Video.

Viewers choose a character and control their actions throughout the five episodes

Decisions affect the hero’s traits and bring viewers closer to unraveling the anomaly’s mystery

Interactive content outperforms standard influencer videos by 185% in watch time

Character choice and plot impact

The interactive series immerses viewers in the fictional town of Topolyevo, cut off from the outside world for years by a mysterious anomaly. Users pick between two protagonists – Sergey Nazarov, who sneaks into the reservation to save his family, or Shapin, a local harboring more than a few skeletons in his closet. Viewers guide their chosen character’s decisions throughout all five episodes.

By steering their character’s actions, viewers earn points that shape a unique set of traits. At the finale, they discover their character’s defining quality within the reservation and uncover several clues about the anomaly’s secrets, edging closer to the solution.

A game of mysteries and secrets

“The series ‘Reservation’ is essentially one big mystery woven from countless smaller secrets. The baffling anomaly trapping the characters exposes their own hidden truths, which in turn reveal even deeper collective enigmas. This means the anomaly doesn’t just envelop the town but manifests uniquely in every person inside. The interactive version acts like a game, letting viewers ‘play’ with these mysteries. Depending on the choices made, the characters’ journeys can gain new meanings and layers, opening fresh mysteries along the way,” explains Nikita Gerfanov, creative producer at ON Studio.

VK’s Vice President of music and video services, Nikolay Duksin, highlighted the format’s popularity:

“Interactive videos captivate viewers by transforming watching into a full experience: the user becomes part of the story, boosting engagement. We experimented with launching interactive content featuring influencers and animation studios – and the format proved its value. At launch, interactive content outperformed regular influencer videos by 185% in watch time.”