The National Basketball Association (NBA) and virtual reality (VR) basketball game Gym Class VR have reached a licencing agreement to let users play on courts with team logos and dress up their avatars in licenced virtual gear.
With the introduction of Gym Class VR in 2021, Meta’s Oculus Quest platform guarantees a realistic, social basketball experience.
A variety of community features, including the option to compare match data, are available while users construct a customizable avatar to compete in exercises and competitive games with other players. The game’s shooting, jumping, and sprinting aspects are all based on actual bodily movements observed by the Meta Quest hardware. The level of immersion is increased, and it also provides some exercise.
Due to the collaboration, customers can buy an ‘NBA Bundle’ that contains a virtual recreation of the court used by their preferred team, official clothing, and a game ball. The aim is that official NBA branding will heighten engagement, increase sales, and strengthen the sense of realism.
Paul Katsen, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer, Gym Class, said, “NBA fans will be able to feel what it’s like to step onto their favorite team’s court with their friends. We’re excited about this relationship with the NBA and our shared vision of connecting fans through the game of basketball.”
Adrienne O’Keeffe, Head of Digital Consumer Products, NBA, said, “Our collaboration with Gym Class will provide our fans with a new way to express their NBA fandom and connect with each other. We look forward to NBA fans fully immersing themselves through this innovative gaming experience.”
With over a million downloads, the VR basketball game Gym Class VR promises to be the most widely used. It offers a free-to-play mode in addition to a “Gym Class Pro” tier with premium features including individualised private courts.
To date, Andreessen Horowitz and Kevin Durant‘s Thirty-Five Ventures have invested $9 million in Gym Class VR.