ESPN announced Meta as the fourth member of the ESPN Edge Innovation Center, joining Accenture, Microsoft, and Verizon to help build ESPN-branded VR experiences for the Meta Quest platform.
The collaboration is focused on bringing an ESPN-branded virtual reality (VR) live sports experiences to Meta Quest.
Immersive VR sports highlights will be available in the free Xtadium app on Meta Quest.
In Xtadium, fans can access the ESPN room and watch highlights in immersive 180-degree VR. Throughout the year, highlights to be featured on the Xtadium app on Meta Quest include NCAA college football and basketball, as well as immersive studio production and interviews from the ESPYs red carpet, among others.
A New Era of Immersive Highlights with espn vr
“Having Meta join the ESPN Edge Innovation Center marks a significant opportunity for us to test, learn, and continue our relentless pursuit of innovation in the ever-evolving sports entertainment landscape,” said Kevin Lopes, Vice President of Business Development & Innovation at ESPN. “Meta is an industry leader that brings tremendous expertise to a strong group of innovators.”
Said Vishal Shah, Vice President of Metaverse at Meta: “Sports completely change when all of a sudden you and your friends are together in VR courtside, or in the endzone, giving you the feeling that you’re actually there. ESPN is a game changer in making this a reality.”
ESPN VR HIGHLIGHTS WITH XTADIUM
🏈NCAA College Football and Basketball Highlights in VR
ESPN VR content currently focuses on immersive college sports highlights, especially featuring NCAA football and college basketball clips filmed in 180‑degree VR.
These highlights are part of the ESPN room inside the Xtadium app, letting you relive big plays and exciting moments as if you were courtside or in the end zone.
🎤ESPN Studio and Event Coverage
In addition to game highlights, ESPN VR includes immersive studio coverage and event programming, such as red‑carpet interviews and segments from events like the ESPYS awards.
These aren’t full live games but bring fans closer to the personalities and moments surrounding major sports events.
🥊Other Sports via Xtadium (Complementing ESPN Experiences)
While strictly speaking outside of ESPN’s own content, the Xtadium platform that hosts ESPN VR highlights also streams other sports in VR, such as:
- NASCAR Cup Series races
- UFC fight events
- Tennis tournaments and basketball leagues (e.g., EuroLeague)
Why ESPN Is Investing in VR
There are several strategic reasons behind ESPN’s push into virtual reality:
1. New Ways to Engage Fans
Traditional broadcasting is inherently passive: viewers watch from a distance. ESPN VR flips this dynamic by putting fans inside the experience, from courtside views to virtual highlight reels, enhancing emotional engagement with the sports they love.
2. Social Viewing in Virtual Spaces
VR isn’t just about seeing content differently; it’s about sharing the experience. In VR environments like Xtadium from YBVR, friends can meet up virtually and watch content together, turning sports highlights into a shared social event rather than a solitary one.
3. Staying Ahead of the Innovation Curve
As competition for sports viewers intensifies with direct-to-consumer services and niche streaming platforms, ESPN is betting on VR to stay at the forefront of how sports entertainment evolves.
By experimenting with Meta Quest and immersive environments now, the network positions itself to lead tomorrow’s fan experience.
