The NBA has expanded its current partnership with Meta to broadcast its games to the metaverse. The company announced that 52 league games will be available to enjoy using VR (virtual reality) technology, using Xtadium, a shared viewing platform. Five of these games will be featured in a more immersive way for Horizon Worlds, Meta’s flagship metaverse app.
NBA will broadcast 52 games in the metaverse
The NBA has struck a deal to bring some of its games freely into the metaverse. On January 23, the company Announced an extension of its current partnership with Meta to broadcast its games using VR (virtual reality) technology. The games will be streamed using Xtadium, a metaverse app used to stream immersive sports experiences using Meta’s consumer headset, the Meta Quest 2.
The league will feature 52 games in Horizon Worlds, Meta’s flagship metaverse app, for users to enjoy and view. Five of these games will be presented in a more immersive way, using 180-degree monoscopic technology. This means that the user will be able to experience the game as if they were sitting near the pitch, changing the point of view as the game progresses.
With this move, the league aims to provide existing fans with a more interactive experience and bring in new fans who are familiar with these new technologies to the sport. On this, Metaverse’s director of media content, Sarah Malkin, stated:
The superpower of virtual reality makes it possible to immerse yourself in shared experiences with friends and fans around the world, and we’re excited to bring these incredible features to NBA Arena and live games.
Avatar merchandise and more
The NBA and Meta will also offer fans the opportunity to purchase licensed NBA apparel at the Avatars of Meta store. These elements will be available across the entire family of Meta-owned apps, including Whatsapp, Instagram, and Facebook. Meta’s director of sports media and league associations, Rob Shaw, reinforced the importance of bringing new technology to fans. He explained:
Meta’s immersive VR technology is opening up new opportunities for sports fans to engage and interact with their favorite NBA teams. Fans will be able to express their fandom by donning their favorite team’s gear in Avatars and enjoying more live NBA games.
The NBA has been very receptive to the use of new technologies to broaden the scope of its activities. In association with Dapper Labs, the company thrown out NBA Top Shots in 2020, an NFT video marketplace featuring moments, which are some of the biggest plays in league history. In September, the league partnered with Sorare, a fantasy gaming company, to create an NFT (non-fungible token) game.
What do you think of the NBA and its approach to the metaverse? Tell us in the comment section below.
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