Maybe we are overstating it, but VR is having a solid start to the year.

According to our friends at Perplexity.ai, the search results indicate that VR is experiencing significant growth in both the consumer and enterprise sectors, with increasing market size, headset sales, gaming revenue, and consumer interest. The technology is also being adopted across various industries, suggesting a measurable increase in VR interest and adoption in 2024.

You can see for yourself, just here… which provides some interesting and helpful background info for this week’s VR related stories.

Not to be missed was also a kerfuffle in the ongoing drama titled “Actors vs. AI”, and a new fan engagement platform came online.

Here’s what you need to know:

• The Premier League and Rezzil announcement partnership

• MLB Home Run Derby VR Launches on Meta Quest Store

• AI Replaces an Actress's Voice

• Improbable and LocalGlobe launch Victory League

Let’s get into it…

The Premier League and Rezzil announcement partnership

The Premier League has embarked on a four-year partnership with virtual reality (VR) software developer Rezzil. According to the announcement, Rezzil will develop an official Premier League VR video game, enabling fans to immerse themselves in the league through virtual reality. Additionally, the Premier League has acquired a stake in Rezzil as part of the agreement, showcasing its dedication to expanding into the VR gaming arena.

This collaboration offers English Premier League fans a novel way to interact with the league and its content using cutting-edge VR technology. Rezzil's software seamlessly integrates with Premier League match player and ball tracking data, allowing users to recreate scenarios and goals from live-action matches.

Until now, Rezzil's flagship product has been "Rezzil Player," an accessible yet capable AR and VR sports training game designed to help athletes of all levels enhance their performance. The company has also focused on developing solutions for sports teams to improve performance and for training facilities to differentiate their offerings.

However, in conjunction with Exar.live, a data-driven game analysis platform, and the Premier League announcement, the company is poised to enhance its offerings to consumers and broadcasters.

Why is this important?

Both EA and Ubisoft (makers of the 2K games series) have allowed indie VR sports game developers to enter the space, unchecked. Consequently, talented and courageous companies have taken advantage of this opportunity. These emerging VR game development studios are partnering with world-class sports IP, creating games, and striving to find audiences.

In a similar vein, the NFL and StatusPro have joined forces to develop NFL Pro Era, the first NFL-licensed virtual reality (VR) simulation gaming title. The game has already amassed over 1 million players and recently concluded a $20 million Series A investment round led by Google Ventures.

In the realm of golf, the PGA Tour has partnerships with both EA (EA Sports PGA TOUR) and Ubisoft (PGA TOUR 2K23), both released in 2023 to capitalize on the surge in golf interest post-pandemic. In the VR domain, the PGA Tour also has an established partnership with Golf+ VR, while the R&A has a partnership with Golf5 eClub.

To further emphasize the trend of sports leagues and indie game development studios launching sports games with major league IP, Major League Baseball has cut out all studio intermediaries and relaunched its own game, "MLB Home Run Derby VR." More details on that can be found... right now...

MLB Home Run Derby VR Launches on Meta Quest Store

Although the game was built and launched in VR in 2016, its launch on the Meta Quest Store marks a significant advancement in the distribution of the game.

"To continue enhancing this unique game experience for our fans, our developers have continually evolved Home Run Derby VR since its initial introduction in 2016. We strive to consistently expand these experiences to reach more fans and engage new users, so bringing Home Run Derby VR to the Meta Quest Store allows us to achieve both," says Jamie Leece, Senior Vice President of Gaming & VR at MLB.

The launch of MLB Home Run Derby VR on the Meta Quest Store introduces several key new features, including expanded player progression, an online Clubhouse, a leaderboard, and a trophy room. The game also offers incentives, an in-game economy, and unlockable customizations, which can integrate with the Meta avatar system.

Why should you care?

As mentioned above. 👆

It's more evidence that major rights holders are exploring ways to bypass intermediaries and connect directly with fans. Traditionally, video games were seen as a realm where sports IP owners collaborated with intermediaries (i.e. game studios) to repackage their product (i.e., develop a game), distribute it, and receive license or royalty fees (often both).

However, now sports leagues are developing their own VR games and reaching out directly to fans. 🤯

Want to join us at SEG3 London this year?

Join the likes of Man Utd, Mastercard, zkSync & other leaders across sports, entertainment, gaming & technology in London on June 27-28.

AI replaces an actress's voice; the internet (over)reacts 

The BBC's decision to replace voice-over artist Sara Poyzer with artificial intelligence (AI) for an upcoming project has sparked significant debate and controversy within the UK's acting community and beyond. Poyzer shared a screenshot of an email from the BBC informing her that her services were no longer required as the BBC had approved the use of an AI-generated voice for the project.

The BBC later clarified that the use of AI was for a "highly sensitive documentary" featuring a contributor who is nearing the end of life and is now unable to speak. The decision to use AI was made with the family's wishes in mind, aiming to recreate the voice of the contributor for a brief section of the documentary. This use of AI will be clearly labelled within the film.

Naturally, the news of Poyzer's replacement by AI has led to a broader discussion about the implications of AI in the creative industries, particularly for actors and voice artists. Some industry veterans have expressed concern over the trend, suggesting it's time for British actors and creatives to resist the use of AI in their industry. Similarly, Voice Squad, Poyzer's voiceover agency, expressed disappointment with the BBC's decision, highlighting the potential dangers of AI to the industry and the devaluation of skilled actors' work.

Why should you care?

This is an interesting story, but perhaps not one you need to prioritize. This incident requires a quick review of what it is and what it isn't.

This is a media production decision made where a solution is chosen because it makes technical, creative, and in this case, compassionate sense to the relevant storytellers.

This is not an example of the unbounded proliferation of AI taking away jobs in creative industries.

Yes, one can draw parallels between the situation and the ongoing debate within the entertainment industry about the role of AI, mirroring concerns raised during the SAG-AFTRA actors' strike in Hollywood. However, this story is not an example of Sara Poyzer being replaced by an AI stand-in for Poyzer. The media and industry’s desire to inflate this story to make that point was unnecessary.

AI for voice-over work is only going to increase. In this situation, where a family can use AI-powered voice-over tools to more accurately reflect the voice of a sick and dying loved one, the choice is straightforward.

Victory League launches with support from Improbable and LocalGlobe

The Victory League, a new football league set to debut in 2024, has garnered backing from LocalGlobe and Improbable. This venture will collaborate with top clubs, players, and leagues in both men's and women's football across Europe.

Improbable and LocalGlobe are investing $4 million in seed funding for the platform. Notable backers include renowned fashion photographer Hugo Comte, along with players Oleksandr Zinchenko and Nwankwo Kanu.

The league aims to elevate fan engagement through "hyper-engagement campaigns" and provide interactive events and exclusive experiences. Victory League plans to utilize emerging technologies with support from Improbable.

Why Should You Care?

The landscape of sports and "new fan engagement platforms" has encountered challenges in recent years. The rise and fall of various sports NFT projects left some fans disappointed and others seeking more substantial ways to connect with their beloved teams.

To clarify, Victory League is not an NFT project. However, their vision to create "dynamic, authentic fan experiences in a safe, moderated interactive environment" where fans can "share stories, participate in exclusive live events, and forge deeper connections with their clubs and heroes, regardless of location or background" bears resemblance to opportunities explored by other projects.

The backing from LocalGlobe and Improbable suggests that Victory League is poised to make a significant impact and extends an invitation to innovators in the fan engagement space. It echoes the sentiment of the Monty Python line, "I'm not dead yet!" - indicating that there is still ample room for innovation and growth in this sector.

We’re three editions in. We want to improve every week, and your feedback is essential to making that happen. If you like it, tell us your favourite bit. And… if you feel that you wasted 6mins reading this today, tell us why. 🙏