There has been a lot of interest in watching sports through virtual reality. It is evident this 360-degree field of view is unprecedented and offers a whole new level of entertainment. LiveLike, a US startup, wants to take this concept to a whole new level. Whether it is hockey, soccer, football, or basketball, the games can be watched from a virtual luxury suite together with friends. It will also provide highlights, replays, and other information without having to buy an expensive VR headset.
LiveLike is Definitely on to Something
There is a big difference between watching sports on TV and doing so in virtual reality. The latter option is a lot more interactive and immersive. Unfortunately, it also requires an expensive computer and expensive VR headset to do so. That is one of the main reasons why this concept has not been overly successful as of yet. With LivelIke, that situation will come to change in the future. That is, assuming the company’s business model proves to be successful in the coming years.
More specifically, the company offers an at-home VR experience for everyone to enjoy. Their ecosystem works across smartphones, cardboard glasses, or no specific gadgets at all. It is an interesting concept to put viewers in the game itself at any given moment. Moreover, the option to enjoy this experience together with friends only makes it more appealing. So far, the company raised $23m from major sports and media companies to bring this platform to market.
Especially the concept of getting an immersive experience without VR sounds rather appealing Livelike co-founder Miheer Walavalkar claims viewers will benefit from more immersion even without VR glasses. It seems those viewers will enjoy virtually the same functionality and features without having to invest in additional hardware. An interesting concept to look forward to, assuming it will be available internationally.
For now, the company has produced several dozen games internationally. They are also a partner of the NBA and the French Tennis Association, among others. Bringing social viewing to live sports in a convenient and affordable manner will be something to look forward to. It is unclear when the rest of the world will get to enjoy this new way of watching sports, but there is plenty of reason to be excited about this new venture already.
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