Meta Sees VR Fitness Revolution, Will Make Its Headsets “Sweat-Proof”

Meta Sees VR Fitness Revolution, Will Make Its Headsets “Sweat-Proof”

Meta Sees VR Fitness Revolution, Will Make Its Next Headsets “Sweat-Proof”

By

Andrew Cohen


When Meta — then generally known as Facebook — purchased Oculus for $2 billion in 2014, the digital actuality headset was anticipated to turn into a house for next-generation gaming. What the social community didn’t anticipate has been the embrace of fitness-themed apps to exercise in digital actuality. 

“I now have a very completely different mindset about the place I feel gaming on VR goes. Where it’s going, in my view, is it’s going to revolutionize health,” Rob Shaw, Meta’s director of North American sports activities partnerships, mentioned Wednesday at SportTechie’s State Of The Industry convention. He spoke on the “Engaging Fans within the Metaverse” panel alongside Candy Digital CMO Andre Llewellyn and Atlanta Braves VP of promoting and innovation Greg Mize.

Meta ignited its push into health final November with its acquisition of digital actuality health app Supernatural. With VR apps that span boxing, dance and different full-body exercises, Meta is constructing its subsequent Quest headset to be “sweat proof.”

“The subsequent iteration that we’re going to have of our present Quest 2 product is to make the headset extra sweat proof, to have the controllers have higher grips,” Shaw mentioned. “People are utilizing our platform to exercise, and it’s not one thing we essentially forecasted. We now have creators who’re creating these video games for individuals to be lively. So I feel gaming goes to vary in some ways.”

Last month, the NFL partnered with StatusPro to develop a digital actuality soccer sport. That sport, which can be obtainable on Meta’s Quest and PlayStation VR headsets, will prioritize motion — reminiscent of customers making bodily throwing motions — whereas taking part in quarterback in its digital soccer surroundings.

Meta additionally partnered with the NFL round Super Bowl LVI to let followers dress their digital avatars in Rams and Bengals-branded clothes. The digital attire was free to purchase throughout Meta’s platforms, however the firm expects to ultimately have customers pay for his or her digital avatar’s swag.

“Our intent is to develop a market the place these jerseys or shirts might be bought,” Shaw mentioned. “There can be a enterprise mannequin the place the monies can return to the leagues and groups or whoever owns the IP.”

https://www.sporttechie.com/meta-sees-vr-fitness-revolution-will-make-its-next-headsets-sweat-proof

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