Meta has released various VR services to expand its Metaverse. NBA League Pass is one of these services that enables you to watch NBA games in VR.
In today’s post, we’ll focus on the various aspects of NBA League Pass VR. Other than that, we’ll also discuss some important factors and FAQs.
Without further ado, let’s get started.
NBA League Pass VR
NBA League Pass VR is a part of Horizon Venues service from Meta. It can be accessed on any Oculus headset to watch live games from basketball arenas. Moreover, you can also watch pre-game and post-game shows for any team.
Alternate #1
VRChat
VRChat is a collection of endless VR worlds that you can explore to have fun and enjoy with your friends. It features built-in games, social arenas, and hyper-realistic landscapes. Moreover, you can also completely customize your avatar.
Alternate #2
Microsoft Mesh
Microsoft’s Mesh is a combination of VR and AR. It is designed to provide a shared experience for your colleagues and friends. Other than that, it is compatible with all sorts of smart devices.
Quick Summary of the Main Product
The virtual reality technologies have progressed in terms of experience over the past few years. NBA League Pass is one of the few services that provide the experience of the real world in VR.
You can access this service to watch NBA games in VR all around the year. Just like a normal arena, it lets you find available seats and enjoy the game from start to finish.
What is the extent of the NBA League Pass VR experience?
We found that Horizon Venues have completely mapped most of the arenas for NBA League Pass. You can view the entire game and even zoom in for detailed immersion.
Other than that, you can also move your head around to take look at other things inside the arena. It lets you interact with other Metaverse avatars as well.
Can I watch the game from any location inside the arena?
NBA League Pass has two different options to watch the game. You can find a specific seat inside the arena to watch the game.
Other than that, you can also switch to preset angles. These camera angles are usually placed on the basket boards or on the courtside.
Can I watch any NBA game with NBA League Pass?
We must also mention that Horizon Venues has an extensive schedule for the available games. You can pre-purchase game tickets once the schedule goes up on the app.
Features and Benefits
Immersion
The main advantage of NBA League Pass is its ability to showcase NBA games in angles you can’t get in real life. Moreover, you can choose any seat in the arena.
You can set your VR headset to showcase the basket board angle or behind it. It also has the ability to project the game from the center of the arena.
Does the VR use real-world elements?
We noticed that you view the live game in 3D. There are no additional elements to make the game life-like.
Moreover, you can move your head around or use VR controllers to change the camera angle.
Is audio taken from the live feed?
Our team also found that NBA League Pass uses real audio for the games. You can also turn the commenters off and just listen to the ambient audio.
Arenas
It goes without saying that arenas are a big part of basketball games. The atmosphere and the audience make it much more thrilling.
We found Horizon Venues have placed multiple cameras all around the arena to cover every single spot. You can watch the audience, celebrities on the courtside, and even the benched players.
Can I interact with the audience?
Currently, there is no way to interact with the audience. However, you can still make your Meta avatar cheer whenever a team scores.
You can also create a special room to watch games with your Meta friends. Here you can interact and talk with other avatars.
Game Schedule
Our team found that NBA League Pass VR has a detailed schedule of the games available for VR. You can simply go to the app and check the availability of Home and Away games.
Moreover, it also has the feature to filter the games of your favorite team. You can also pre-purchase all the games of your choice.
What if the games are canceled or postponed?
We found that if the games are canceled, your money is refunded. You don’t have to worry about wasting money on pre-purchase.
On the other hand, if the games are postponed, you’ll get a notification. These notifications are displayed in the Horizon Venues app.
Oculus App
Lastly, we have the Horizon Venues app for your Oculus headsets. It is your go-to place for everything related to NBA League Pass.
You can view your upcoming games, player lineups, and all other important notifications. Moreover, this app also helps you keep your tickets in check.
Can I access the app on my phone?
We also found this app to be completely compatible with iOS and Android devices. You can download it from the Oculus website or the respective app stores.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to NBA League Pass VR
Availability
Horizon Venues is available for all Oculus users around the world.
However, it is different for NBA League Pass. You can only access the NBA League games in VR if you are in the US or within 200 miles radius of the arena.
Price
The next factor you need to keep an eye out for is the price. We found that the Horizon Venues app and NBA League Pass are free for all to access.
However, you’ll need to purchase individual online tickets to watch the games in VR. Each game ticket has the same price.
Compatibility
After multiple tests, our team found that NBA League Pass VR is compatible with all Meta VR headsets. You can use Oculus Rift, Rift S, Quest 1, and Quest 2.
It features compatibility for motion controllers as well. You can either use the controllers or simply use your phone to move around the arena.
Pros and Cons
- Easy to navigate
- Convenient camera adjustment
- Immersive VR audio
- Watch party feature
- Cheap tickets
- Only available in the US
Social Proof
After a careful series of tests, we decided to dive into some of the customer reviews. At first glance, the reviews were negative. Most of the people were unhappy with the underwhelming features.
Many people pointed out its lack of cross-country availability. They stated that even though the app has a lot of potential, it is still unavailable for the majority of users.
Some users also mentioned the app being unresponsive at times. They said it was quite difficult to get to the NBA League to pass to watch games.
NBA League Pass VR Alternatives (Recommendations)
#1: Best Interactive VR Service - VRChat Review
VRChat is a highly interactive combination of various VR worlds. We picked VRChat because of its ability to provide an accessible VR experience for users around the world.
You can invite your friends to different VR worlds and do multiple activities. VRChat features a long list of worlds that you can visit.
What sort of VR worlds can I visit?
There are VR worlds available for all types of people. You can choose from social areas, gaming worlds, or worlds with pleasing landscapes.
Moreover, you can also add different worlds to your Quick Access list. This way, you can easily hop on with your friends.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy VRChat
Availability
After multiple tests, our team found that VRChat is entirely compatible with the 4 major VR headsets. You can use it with Oculus, HTC Vive, Valve Index, and Windows Mixed Reality.
Moreover, you can also use VR controllers or a keyboard/mouse to control your avatar. VRChat is also compatible with D-pad controllers.
Price
We found that VRChat is a free-to-download service. Since it falls in the gaming category, you can either get it from the main website or the STEAM store.
Moreover, every single VR world in VRChat is free for all to access. You can also select a number of different avatar skins without any cost.
Compatibility
We ran multiple benchmark tests to check the compatibility of VRChat. Our team concluded that doesn’t require a powerful PC.
The minimum requirements you’ll need are a Windows 10 OS with an Intel i5-4th gen and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970.
- Countless VR worlds
- Easy to access
- Immersive visuals
- No compatibility issues
- Free of cost
- Some VR worlds have bugs
Best Interactive VR Service
The best interactive VR service is VRChat because you can use it to explore and interact with unique VR worlds. Moreover, it is available for all users around the world. You invite your friends and have an enjoyable experience.
#2: Best AR Compatible Service - Microsoft Mesh Review
Microsoft Mesh is a combination of two different technologies. We selected Mesh because of its dual utility for AR and VR headsets.
You can use this service to organize professional/formal meetings, hang out with your friends, or play video games. Moreover, it has the feature to create custom VR rooms.
What sort of rooms can I create in Microsoft Mesh?
We noticed that the VR aspect of Mesh enables you to fully customize a VR space. You can design meeting rooms, presentation boards, or even digitize your office workspace.
On the other hand, the AR lets you interact with holographic images of your colleagues and friends. Moreover, you can also create different interactive holo projections.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy Microsoft Mesh
Availability
Our team found that Microsoft Mesh is available for all users around the world. You can access it from mobile phones, laptops, tablets, PCs, and VR headsets.
All you need is a stable internet connection. Other than that, you also use HTC Vive, Oculus, or Lenovo Legion VR headsets.
Price
We found the Microsoft Mesh is free of cost. You can simply download it on any device and use the available features.
However, you’ll have to purchase a compatible AR or VR headset to access the respective features.
Compatibility
We ran multiple tests to check the compatibility of Microsoft Mesh. After the test, the results showed no signs of incompatible features.
Furthermore, we also found that the AR aspect of Microsoft Mesh runs smoothly on the Holo Lens 2 Ar headset. It provides a seamless AR interactive experience.
- AR and VR features
- Compatible with various VR headsets
- Free of cost
- Seamless interactions
- Professional application
- Limited VR customization
Best AR Compatible Service
The best AR compatible service is the Microsoft Mesh. It features various applications for AR and VR headsets. You can use it for professional or casual use. Moreover, it is accessible from anywhere in the world.
Buyer’s Guide
Following is a list of factors you need to keep in check. Let’s see what they are in detail.
Availability
The first and foremost thing you need to check for a VR service is its availability. Most of the VR services in the world revolve around the experience.
Even in countries like the US or Canada, some services are limited to specific areas. This limits your experience if you are overseas.
What sort of availability should I look for?
We recommend that you get services with global availability. This way, you can travel around the world and access your VR service without any availability issues.
This can come in handy if you use your VR services for professional purposes.
Price
Next factor you need to keep an eye out for is the price of a VR service. Some services are free to access while some provide paid features.
We recommend that you carefully check what sort of free and paid aspects a service provides. This way, you can make an informed decision before purchasing a service.
Is it better to purchase a paid service?
It depends on the number of features you’ll get for the price. However, in most cases, it is better to go for a free service.
Compatibility
Lastly, we have the compatibility aspect of VR services. It is quite essential to check the compatibility with various headsets to make sure the service works fine.
We recommend that you read the compatibility details. It will help you understand what sort of VR headsets you can use.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is NBA League Pass compatible with other VR headsets?
Currently, Horizon Venues and NBA League Pass are only available for Oculus VR users. You can only access it through Oculus headsets. The list includes Oculus Rift, Rift S, Quest 1, and Quest 2.
Can I access NBA League Pass overseas?
Meta has only made NBA League Pass accessible for users inside the US. If you travel overseas, NBA League Pass won’t stream live games. However, you can still check the results and upcoming games through the Oculus app.
How can I bypass the region lock of Horizon Venues?
One easy way to unlock the different features of Horizon Venues is to use a VPN. You can use a VPN to set your location to the US and it will unlock the features. However, you have to use the VPN on a device with the Oculus app.
Do I need VR controllers to access Horizon Venues?
You’ll only need a single VR controller stick to access various features. However, there are certain services that require the use of both controllers. Moreover, you can also use D-pad controllers to some extent.
Can I watch other games on Horizon Venues?
Currently, you can only watch NBA games on the Horizon Venues. However, there is an ESPN+ app that you can install on your Oculus headset to watch multiple live games. It includes baseball, soccer, and football.
Do I need surround sound audio headphones for VR?
You can use any pair of headphones with your VR headset. However, it is highly recommended that you use surround sound-enabled headphones for optimal immersion. This is mainly because VR headsets use a 3D audio output.
Does Horizon Venues use my body movement?
Currently, Horizon Venues only use your head and controller movements for in-game avatar control. You can comfortably sit on your couch and explore various aspects of the VR worlds in Horizon Venues.
Can I download VR live games on NBA League Pass?
Horizon Venues doesn’t feature the ability to download VR live games. You can only watch games as they are happening. The only thing you can check is the game score.
Wrapping Things Up
This brings us to the end of our review of NBA League Pass VR. We hope this information proves to be useful for you.
NBA League Pass VR provides a way for you to watch NBA games with the thrills of courtside action. You can change camera angles and get a better outlook of the game. Moreover, it also comes with a detailed schedule for the entire season.
Which VR service is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.