eSports fans get 360 degree VR footage

New VR innovation, SLIVER.tv, allows gamers the chance to view 360 degree footage of their favorite eSports titles.

We continue to see new applications for virtual reality. We recently covered an educational VR application that allows children to learn musical instruments virtually and a web tool that converts Tumblr pages into virtually curated gallery spaces. Adding an interesting dimension to the world of computer gaming, SLIVER.tv allows gamers to experience their favorite eSports in 360 degree footage.

The platform uses a network of “virtual cameras” to capture the film, streaming it into immersive, spherical footage that viewers can record and watch on VR headsets. The startup is already working with three of the largest eSports titles, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends and Dota 2, whose collective audience comprises 140 million monthly players globally. It allows existing players a more in-depth experience of their favorite games. Mitch Liu, founder and CEO of SLIVER.tv, said: “We’re focused on the intersection between today’s 250 million eSports viewers and the emerging VR market. We recognized early on that the existing eSports viewing approach from the player’s point-of-view is not necessarily the best perspective for the audience.”

Rather than creating niche content designed for VR and then attempting to lure in audiences, SLIVER.tv has instead capitalized on the hugely popular existing eSports content. By adding a new VR layer of eSports experience, SLIVER.tv hopes to benefit from this global audience. Could this model be used by more VR innovations?