The National Football League earlier this week announced a partnership with sports tech gaming company StatusPRO to develop a virtual reality NFL-licensed game. This first-person 3D immersive simulation meant to bring fans closer to the gridiron will be available on Meta Quest and PlayStation VR.
“Today marks an important milestone for StatusPRO and the VR industry. By partnering with the NFL, we will offer a new form of engagement between athletes and fans unlike anything in the marketplace. NFL football fans and gamers alike will be able to connect with the world of sports through authentic, immersive gaming products that democratize the experience of the professional athlete,” said Troy Jones, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of StatusPRO.
StatusPRO is a company built by Andrew Hawkins and Troy Jones, each former athletes with the goal to help others better understand what it takes to compete at the highest levels. By this, they utilize the engaging and growing VR platform to create the world’s most authentic and immersive gaming and training products. So far, teams are currently using StatusPRO’s Pre-Game Prep, the ultimate XR football training platform developed specifically for NFL clubs, coaches and players to gain a competitive edge while keeping health and safety at the forefront.
“We are seeing a growing number of fans engaging with VR and we’re excited to launch the first-ever VR gaming title that complements our existing offerings in the market today,” said Joe Ruggiero, SVP, Consumer Products at the NFL. With StatusPRO and their existing tools for VR football training, sports fans will get the opportunity to feel as if they are on the field. The NFL has had a foot in video games long before this step into VR, such as with EA’s 34-year-old Madden franchise. Sports games such as this one give players the opportunity for dynamic gameplay with options such as managing their very own franchise, strategizing with their players’ strengths and of course controlling them on the field. Madden 22 was released in August of 2021, with its successor rumored to be on the way in August 2022. As for this new NFL VR game, additional information including release dates and pricing will be announced at a later date.