With football (soccer for American readers) season well underway, and the impending release of FIFA 15, a multitude of gamers will be flocking to their couches to participate in both real-world and digital versions of “the beautiful game.”
However, if Oculus Rift co-founder Nate Mitchell has anything to say about it, gamers may be swapping out their seats on the couch for seats in the stadium.
Oculus Rift and FIFA: A Perfect Fit
Much has been said by both the press and public about the Oculus Rift, a virtual reality headset whose parent company was recently acquired by Facebook for $2 billion. It’s expected to be a revolutionary product when it releases to the public. With real-life applications that are not limited to just gaming, the Oculus Rift has a lot to live up to.
But how does this relate to FIFA and football? In a recent interview with Eurogamer, Oculus Rift co-founder Nate Mitchell went on record to say that EA’s immensely popular FIFA franchise would be “the perfect fit” for the Oculus Rift, stating the following:
“You can imagine sitting in the stands and confetti is raining down, and the four of us are sitting right next to each other and we’re controlling the players on the field — that would be an awesome VR experience.”
Integrating the Oculus Rift with the traditional FIFA experience would provide an unparalleled sense of immersion. Instead of sitting in the living room and controlling the players on the screen, gamers will be able to take a seat in one of the many football stadiums around the world, and control the players on the field directly from the stands; all the while fans and music roaring around them.
Mitchell said that he is privy to a collaboration with Electronic Arts in regards to working on an Oculus Rift version of the best-selling football franchise.
“It feels like it’s a natural fit, a natural port, so if EA showed up (and said), ‘Hey would you help subsidise some of the risk for us to do this?’ I might actually say, ‘Yeah let’s go for it — let’s see if we can pull it off.’”
A collaboration between video game industry giant, EA, and Oculus Rift would most likely boost the mainstream popularity of virtual reality hardware.
The Oculus Rift does not have an official public release date as of yet, but people can expect to pay around $200 – 400 for the virtual reality headset when it does.
What are your thoughts on the possibility of playing FIFA with an Oculus Rift? Would it add or detract from the experience? What are your thoughts on the trend of virtual reality gaming in general?
Let us know in the comments section below! As always, stay tuned to GamerHeadlines.com for the latest in video game and technology news.
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