Social virtual reality (VR) is a hot topic in the immersive industry at the moment, with its many implications for bringing people together and allowing for collaboration and sharing. Esports is an area which is also seeking recognition by the mainstream, and social VR platform Sansar is seeking to combine the two.
Announcing partnerships with several professional teams from the Overwatch League (OWL), Sansar will be allowing Esports fans and players to interact in a new by utilising VR.
The collaboration between Overwatch teams such as the Houston Outlaws and San Francisco Shock allows fans to interact in a one-on-one way with popular players and personalities from within the world of esports.
The Sansar social esports experience is designed to reflect what fans of traditional sports might experience at a live event such as a football match or baseball game, featuring virtual photo opportunities, meet-and-greets and exclusive merchandise giveaways.
“We’ve seen a real need in the esports market for a deeper, more engaging fan experience – something that can go beyond normal spectatorship to really draw people in,” said Ebbe Altberg, CEO at Linden Lab. “We feel social VR is perfectly poised to meet this need, and we’re thrilled to find forward-thinking esports partners that feel the same – trailblazing teams that recognize VR’s potential and are willing to evolve and innovate to deliver world-class experiences. Their investments in Sansar are investments in their communities.”
Fans of the Houston Outlaws will be able to access a special virtual space called The Hideout, where they will be able to watch a livestream of a special event called the Outlaws 2018 Block Party.
Sansar will also be offering San Francisco Shock fans the chance to enter the SF Shock Epicentre, a specially created virtual arena specifically for esports, which is available exclusively for Sansar. Further information on both of these events can be found on the Sansar website.
For ongoing news and updates on esports in VR, keep checking back with VRFocus.
via Mint VR