Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has announced a partnership with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to create a unique UFC-themed experience within Meta’s Horizon Worlds social virtual reality (VR) platform. This collaboration aims to engage users through immersive 4K, 180-degree streams of fights, interactive socialization, and in-world games with exclusive rewards. The UFC zone in Horizon Worlds is scheduled to launch in November, offering a virtual recreation of the Octagon and the opportunity to become a UFC Hall of Famer. While this tailored experience may appeal to UFC enthusiasts, Meta’s broader objective is to enhance user engagement on its platform.
Enhancing User Engagement with Tailored Experiences
Meta’s Horizon Worlds platform has faced challenges in retaining users, prompting the company to develop specialized experiences to increase engagement. Recently, Meta introduced Super Rumble, an in-Horizon first-person shooter, showcasing improved graphics, gameplay depth, and various quests and rewards. By expanding Horizon Worlds beyond VR to other platforms, Meta hopes to attract a wider audience and solidify its position in the metaverse. A mobile version of Horizon Worlds may be launched soon, possibly at Meta’s Connect event on September 27th. Additionally, Meta is actively working on a web version of the app, making the platform more accessible to users across different devices.
The forthcoming UFC-themed zone within Horizon Worlds will offer an immersive experience for UFC enthusiasts. Users will have the opportunity to watch fights through 4K, 180-degree streams, fostering a sense of being right in the action. Additionally, the zone will facilitate socialization among players, allowing UFC fans to connect and engage with one another. The virtual recreation of the Octagon will provide a visually stunning environment that replicates the excitement of being at a live UFC event. To further incentivize user participation, Meta has promised exclusive unlockable rewards within the zone, providing additional motivation for users to spend time in the UFC zone and work towards becoming a UFC Hall of Famer.
As part of this collaboration, Meta has released a schedule of upcoming UFC fights that can be watched in VR using Quest headsets through the Xtadium app, provided users have a UFC Fight Pass subscription. This integration allows users to experience live UFC fights in a highly immersive manner, adding another layer of realism to their viewing experience. It’s worth noting that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who has a background in Jiu-Jitsu, may personally tune in to these VR fights, assuming he is not otherwise occupied with his training in his own backyard Octagon.
Meta’s partnership with the UFC signifies their dedication to creating tailored experiences within Horizon Worlds and expanding the platform’s reach beyond VR. The forthcoming UFC-themed zone, along with the successful launch of Super Rumble, demonstrates Meta’s commitment to offering enhanced graphics, engaging gameplay, and diverse quests to attract and retain users. With the potential introduction of a mobile version and a web version of Horizon Worlds, Meta aims to establish itself as a prominent player in the metaverse. As technology continues to advance, virtual reality experiences, such as the UFC zone in Horizon Worlds, provide users with unique opportunities to immerse themselves in their favorite activities and connect with like-minded individuals.
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