Hot off the heels of E3 2018 is the World Cup, and you'll be able to watch all 33 matches through your PlayStation VR headset as the BBC plans to trial the latest technology at the greatest footballing showcase on the planet.
As the Los Angeles show floor begins to wind down, you'll be able to take your seat in a virtual hospitality box in Russia as you view the opening game, Russia v Saudi Arabia. While the match-up may not be the most glamorous fixture of the tournament, a virtual reality perspective is certainly an exciting prospect for the final.
As well as the glitzy private box, you'll also be able to get among the fans with a viewpoint from both ends of the pitch behind the goals. Although, you know what this means England fans, don't you? We'll be able to view the three lions crashing out on penalties from a closer viewing angle than ever before.
We hope you've still got that cleaning cloth that came with PlayStation VR, because you may be shedding some tears inside that headset of yours. Tell us which games you'll want to view in virtual reality in the comments below.
[source bbc.co.uk]
Comments 35
Amazing. I was disapointed sony didnt do this for the champions league final, you know, since playstation sponsor the thing. So this will be epic
Still don't own PSVR unfortunatly but this is really exciting. Hope it works out well.
that actually sounds cool! Kinda wish I had a PSVR now
This is the sort of thing that will convince me to buy a VR headset. Seriously cool.
As I have said countless times about VR and in particular PSVR, that adding features/apps/experiences outside of just 'gaming' is what I think will transform VR from an 'expensive' and 'limited' peripheral (like Kinect) into a 'must have' accessory.
This is great addition for those 'few' (as a percentage of PS Users) to experience the World Cup in a unique way. It would be great too if they were to also have all the E3 briefings too (even MS's as that will no doubt have numerous multi-platform games being showcased) from the perspective of the front row prime seats.
I have said many times that these things, as well as virtual tours of museums, art galleries etc, concerts/festivals, even being able to do your own 'virtual' shopping trips too. By that I don't necessary mean your weekly groceries but say going to a virtual London, New York etc and being able to walk around the stores (that have online too) and browse/purchase in a more 'realistic' way than shopping on Amazon. Whilst there, you could maybe visit some of the attractions (Madame Tussards for example), maybe even watch a theatrical play too. Much cheaper than paying all the travelling expenses, hassle of all those people around etc. It could even be a 'social' experience with friends/family who also own a VR headset. Go to these places, watch these events etc in a virtual world together and be able to chat through the PS party.
Point is, by doing things like this, the VR headset becomes a much more enticing proposition rather than just an expensive gaming periphery that may only get periodic use. Its not reliant on having a must have 'library' of games to justify its cost and if it can entice more people to buy, it gives game developers a much larger install base and so maybe more willing to invest more time, money etc into making games for it. Considering its a 'console' price but doesn't offer the variety of a console that also doubles up as a media (streaming and bluray) player too for example, things like this will add much more to the Headset and more reason to invest.
This is amazing!! This is where I was thinking the future would be.
PSVR's NextVR app gave me a taster of watching live footy and tennis, and the thought of watching a game live from the stands is incredible. You'll get the big match atmosphere from the comfort of your living room! The picture will have to be pretty clear though - the thought of watching a whole game with a fuzzy picture gives me a headache!
I wonder if this will work outside of Britain, though.
I can imagine the PSVR's resolution will make watching the football a bit like, "Number two has the ball and passes it to number eight, err I mean number seven to six". "It's a goal... I think? The screen's so pixelated, I can't really tell."
A virtual hospitality box? I can almost taste the prawn sandwiches.
No VR headset for me unfortunately, apparently they will be streaming 4k HDR on iplayer though which could be cool. Lets see how well it holds up, though.
As for going out on penalties, I bloody love it.
That's really cool, I wish I had a PSVR. Imagine watch England winning the World Cup again, I mean, it's virtual reality after all. :3
About time!
@Hengist dude the PSVR resolution is Full HD (two eyes combined lol!). Most people on the planet are still watching TV in full HD or HD ready. Here in UK 72% of owners (Feb 2018) are full HD/hd ready. If the stats are true, then PSVR is higher resolution than all the HD ready owners and PSVR has built in 3D too and 3D sound! If you haven't watched netflix, movies, YouTube on PS VR in full cinema mode you're missing out on a IMAX experience it's truly awesome dude! Here's link to stats: https://www.statista.com/statistics/387729/market-share-of-hdtv-and-hd-ready-tv-sets-in-the-uk/. At the most in rich countries 4k is only owned by 20% of viewers. 4K has been affordable since 2013 and tbh only 20% market share in 5 years is well not bad. June days of PlayStation sale is coming! Highly recommend getting a PS VR for cheap £200! (half a weeks salary!) Then if you don't likey sell it after a month for £200 second hand - cost you nothing to trial it for a month!
It sounds cool, but I imagine it's going to be a "virtual environment" with a big screen showing the actual game on it. It won't be like being in the crowd, which is obviously the true next step.
If it's the same as what they did for the Champions League final, it will be like you're in the crowd, similar to how NBA do it. It's just that the resolution is AWFUL and not what you expect from PSVR. Still angreat experience with a decent set of headphones, though!
This is great. I kind of want a cinema threatre experience for the PSVR for movies though.
@get2sammyb Its showing behind the goals also just like the BT Sport VR app along with a view from a high up/directors box.
Also its not 3d as such but a 360 view, still cool for 10 mins though. Res is very low though with it being on android. Hopefully the BBC PSVR version is higher res, it'll still be quite fuzzy though for anything past the D. Its a gimmick but a nice potential view in to the future.
@munkholt No, it'll be limited to just UK.. because only the BBC have rights to the World Cup in the UK. They wont be able to show it in other territories.
This is awesome news for VR. I'll be doing this.
@get2sammyb "I imagine it's going to be a "virtual environment"
Well duh, there's a picture of how you'll be watching it on the BBC website.
And somewhere in that article, or better yet the title, Liam should have mentioned "Britain only", there's a lot of us Yanks on here, at least I know I'm not the only one. I don't have Fox Sports so I thought this might be a way for me to watch some of the games.
I am impressed w/ the Ultra HD broadcast, I'm still waiting for the Superbowl to go 4k, that will be the biggest mover of 4k tv's in the US. Every time I think about buying a 4k TV I stop and say "oh wait, there's so little to watch in 4k why bother?".
@rjejr Theres a fair bit of content on Netflix and Amazon Prime in 4k now to be fair.. and I dunno about over the pond but in the UK we have dedicated 4k channels such as BT Sport 4k - Its slowly getting there.
Noticed the other day that Taxi Driver is up in 4k on Netflix. Just need studios to convert more of the original reel for movies to 4k
Apparently movies already converted from 35mm film to BluRay were downscaled from 4k in the process so we should see 4k content much quicker than when HD rolled out.
@solocapers But I don't have Netflix. What I do have is a bookshelf full of DVDs I've never watched. Still need a 4k blu ray player too, I'm not getting another Xbox. Hopefully PS5 will have a 4k disc player.
But it isn't really just about me as TV in general. I was several years late buying an HD tv - 36" SD 250lb monster was nice - after most tv broadcasts had switched to HD. So for me getting an HD tv was very cool, everything I had been watching, from news shows to sports to animal documentaries, went from SD to HD. Pretty much everything. Went from a Wii and PS2 to a PS3, that was impressive as well.
But if I upgrade from my 52" 1080p tv to a 65" 4k TV now, well I don't even have a Pro, just a Slim. Whats' going to change and how much? When my current tv dies - it's 8 years old - I'll get 4k by default. But there isn't really much moving me, or others, in that direction, not like when TV switched over from SD to HD. Superbowl would be a start. And the next Planet Earth series, though I'm still holding out to watch 2 in 4k. 4k TV is putting the cart before the horse. And I can't be the only one who thinks that.
@rjejr It was the same with HD in fairness.. when HD came on the scene most channels were still broadcasting in SD.. obviously in your case you left it till all content was near enough all converted so you didnt notice it.
If you've no plans on getting a PS4 pro or have Netflix etc.. then yea.. theres no point in upgrading just yet. Probably another 2-3 years off from it being niche in terms of mainstream support.
@WillMerfi That's cool.
..this'll be a true test of screen resolution - something as fast-paced as football and how clear it all is... hopefully it's not viewing it on a virtual screen in a virtual room...
Ill probably be watching it on some bootleg link online or whatever random 3rd rate coverage we get in the States.
VR is as big of a fantasy for me as the Russia VIP box.
@bbq_boy
Dude! I think that you'll find that the PSVR isn't 'Full HD resolution', but in-fact 960x1080p per eye. However, it's not the display, rather (when it comes to games), it's the software which drives the resolution even lower, in-order to facilitate the required frames per second that is needed for VR's twin displays. However, the software's low resolution is a direct consequence of the under-powered engine which drives the system, i.e. The PS4 or Pro models.
If PSVR YouTube VR videos are anything to go by, then watching Football will be a blurry mess. Let's hope that the BBC has hit upon a more efficient way of encoding the data.
As for missing out on anything, I don't think that applies to me, as I've owned a PSVR for quite a while now. I bought the novelty edition, which let's friends and family try it, out of VR curiosity, but only has around half a dozen decent games (out of the 40+ PSVR titles, which I own)... Oh hang on, now that I think about it, it's the standard edition which I bought.
Don't get me wrong, I think that PSVR is great, but I think that realistic honesty is better.
Well that's it, between this news and the price drop to £200, I'm getting one!
Be just like being at the match, just without the Russian Ultras throwing bottles and flares at me, awesome!
@Futureshark lol
@Futureshark Mind you, having a flare/bottle thrown at you in 3D via the headset would be interesting lol.
See I'd actually watch this even though I've zero interest in sports. Amazing idea, and imagine what it would be like with other events. Boxing, WWE, concerts.... It's a shame more isn't being done with VR as it's got a lot of potential outside games.
EDIT:
Just read the comments. Yeah, looks crap.
@solocapers "Probably another 2-3 years off"
Feels longer than that to me, closer to never for antenna and cable TV. They might as well just skip 4k and migrate everything from 1080p to 8k and skip a generation.
PS5 having all it's games in native 4k and a 4k blu ray player would help things along though, and more streaming in 4k. My house wifi probably wouldn't like streaming 4k but I always keep all of my consoles wired.
Looks like you might be on to something about the 2-3 year timeline. I haven't been paying much attention but apparently ATSC 3.0 is a thing. 2.0 never happened though, and I wonder if 4k gets skipped over for 8k as well, seems like it's already in 3.0.
https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/atsc-3-0-ota-broadcast-standard-4k-dolby-atmos/3/
@Hengist Here's a cool test of reality. Goto a classic cinema which still offers Full HD with a average 50' (600 inches), sit in the 5th row and see if the picture is super 4k sharp I did mention full HD with BOTH eyes. Great to see we both bring reality, honesty and facts to PS VR!
@rjejr in terms of pixel density to the average livingroom size 8k is going to be pointless for most as you'll not see any greater detail due to distance. Unless the tv is the size of your wall that is.
HDR is where well see the big push imo going forward.
me hopes this works in the US!
Nice. I remember watching live events in PlayStation Home. Time to bring back PlayStation Home in VR?
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