ESL One New York’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament will soon become the first eSports event to be livestreamed globally in virtual reality.
The stream will feature in-game footage captured using Sliver.tv’s virtual 360-degree recording tech to put fans in the games as they happen. An “arena experience” streamed from inside the venue will also be served up by WonderWorld VR.
Judging by the (above) teaser footage released by Sliver, it looks like players will be able to see matches unfold from a bird’s eye view and first-person standpoint simultaneously.
Organizers the ESL say the stream will be platform agnostic, meaning it’ll be viewable through a browser, mobile device, or a VR headset.
For those fans who don’t have access to a VR headset, a Panorama-360 experience will be available on iOS and Android smartphones, Google Cardboard, and the Sliver.tv website.
“This new method of broadcasting gives viewers a taste of what it’s like to be in the arena at an eSports mega event, and a brand new perspective on top level CS:GO through in-game virtual cameras,” said ESL product manager, Stuart Ewen.
“Esports helped pioneer online video streaming, and we couldn’t be more proud to take the next step into the future of broadcast media with this initiative.”
ESL One New York will run for two days, and will kick off at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on October 1.