Meta and UFC Join Forces to Bring MMA Action to Horizon Worlds

Meta has just announced an exciting new partnership with UFC to bring live mixed martial arts (MMA) action to its Horizon Worlds platform. Starting in November 2023, UFC Fight Pass subscribers will be able to watch fights in 4K resolution and 180-degree VR capture. Plus, there will be a virtual Octagon and in-world games to unlock rewards. It’s clear Meta is looking to boost engagement and bring in new users with this move.

What’s in Store for Horizon Worlds?

Horizon Worlds users will be able to watch live MMA fights and switch camera angles to get the best view of each matchup. They can also discuss the fights with other users and compete in single player and multiplayer in-world games to gain unlockable rewards. Plus, the experience will feature a virtual version of the Octagon, allowing users to become UFC Hall of Famers.

This is just the latest move from Meta to keep users returning to the site. Recently, the company added Quests, mini-games, and Rumble World, the first of many next-gen Horizon Worlds games with improved graphics and more complex gameplay.

Why UFC?

Meta latched onto UFC due to the “engagement and passion of this audience,” noting that fans enjoy not just the fights but also sharing the experience with other fans. UFC also makes sense on Meta given CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s apparent interest in the sport.

Live sports may be a potent way to attract new users to the reportedly flagging service, so it’ll be interesting to see if Meta adds others along with UFC.

Conclusion

Meta and UFC have teamed up to bring MMA action to Horizon Worlds, with 4K resolution and 180-degree VR capture, a virtual Octagon, and in-world games to unlock rewards. This is just the latest move from Meta to keep users returning to the site and attract new users to the service. It remains to be seen if Meta will add other sports to the platform in the future.