ABBA are reuniting (sort of) for a virtual reality "digital experience" in 2017

ABBA are set for a return (of sorts) in 2017, bringing their fans a brand new entertainment experience billed as a "groundbreaking venture".

Agnetha, Anna-Fri, Bjorn and Benny have all been working with Universal Music Group and Pop/American Idol creator Simon Fuller to give their legion of followers something to remember, an experience that will utilize "the very latest in digital and virtual reality technology". Exactly what that entails will be announced in the coming months. 

"The creativity and ideas flowing from the members of ABBA over the past few months have filled me with great excitement," explains Simon Fuller, now Founder and CEO of XIX Entertainment.

MORE: Look back at ABBA's complete chart history in the UK, including 26 Top 40 singles

"We are exploring a new technological world, with Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence at the forefront, that will allow us to create new forms of entertainment and content we couldn’t have previously imagined."

ABBA are one of the most successful pop groups ever in the UK, spawning 9 Number 1 singles and 9 Number 1 albums across their career. Their greatest hits collection ABBA Gold is one of the biggest selling albums of all time in the UK.

MORE: The greatest of the greatest: the UK's official Top 10 biggest hits collections revealed

Founding member Benny Andersson commented: "We’re inspired by the limitless possibilities of what the future holds and are loving being a part of creating something new and dramatic here. A time machine that captures the essence of who we were. And are.”

His ex-wife and band member Frida Lyngstad added: “Our fans around the world are always asking us to reform and so I hope this new Abba creation will excite them as much as it excites me!” 

More details on this "pioneering collaboration" will be given next year...