News Highlights:
- New NBA Arena in Meta Horizon Worlds to Feature 52 Live Regular Season Games -
- NBA-Licensed Apparel to be Available in the Meta Avatars Store; NBA League Pass to be Accessible Through YBVR's Xtadium App -
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Meta today announced a multiyear partnership extension that will feature a new virtual reality experience for fans through Meta Horizon Worlds via Meta Quest, the official VR headset of the NBA and WNBA. The NBA Arena in Meta Horizon Worlds experience will feature live NBA League Pass games in virtual reality throughout the season. The partnership extension will also include the launch of NBA-licensed apparel in the Meta Avatars Store and authenticated NBA League Pass access in Xtadium, a VR sports hub app that offers shared watching experiences in high-definition.
"Our extended partnership with Meta will provide more immersive and innovative ways to experience the NBA," said Jennifer Chun, NBA Executive Vice President and Head of Content Partnerships. "Meta's digital world opens up exciting possibilities for NBA fans to virtually attend our games and to interact with other fans around the world."
"Meta's immersive VR technology is opening up new opportunities for sports fans to engage and interact with their favorite NBA teams," said Meta Director of Sports Media and League Partnerships Rob Shaw. "The NBA is always pushing us to innovate and leverage the latest technology to open the door to new fan experiences, and this chapter of our partnership achieves exactly that."
Through Meta Horizon Worlds on Meta Quest, fans will have access to an immersive VR experience. The NBA and Meta will also bring 52 live NBA League Pass games - including five immersive 180-degree monoscopic live VR games in 2880 resolution - in "NBA Arena" in Meta Horizon Worlds. Fans can now visit the NBA Arena in Meta Horizon Worlds to watch NBA content with friends, compete in interactive mini-games and cheer on their favorite teams.
The preliminary game schedule for the NBA Arena is highlighted below:
- Monday, Jan. 23: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Detroit Pistons - 7 p.m. ET
- Tuesday, Jan. 24: Denver Nuggets vs. New Orleans Pelicans - 8 p.m. ET
- Wednesday, Jan. 25: Denver Nuggets vs. Milwaukee Bucks - 8 p.m. ET
- Friday, Jan. 27: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder - 8 p.m. ET
- Sunday, Jan. 29: LA Clippers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers - 7 p.m. ET
- Tuesday, Jan. 31: Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers - 7 p.m. ET
As part of the partnership extension, NBA-licensed apparel will be available in the Meta Avatars Store soon. Fans will be able to purchase their favorite NBA or WNBA team apparel for their Meta Avatar and showcase it across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and on the Meta Quest. Additionally, existing NBA League Pass subscribers will be able to access their subscription in YBVR's Xtadium app within Meta Quest VR in the coming weeks. Fans will then be able to sit in a "virtual" courtside seat to watch live NBA League Pass games and host private watch parties with friends. Live WNBA, NBA G League and NBA 2K League games will also be available via a Meta Quest headset.
Meta will also have a presence at major NBA and WNBA events to showcase Meta Quest technology to NBA fans. You can find the full VR game schedule at NBA.com.
