Wonderworld brings eSports into VR

Wonderworld VR, the fledgling start-up founded by ex-Shine Nordics exec Simon Romanus, has partnered with a US e-sports firm to produce the first-ever live streamed e-sports event.

The company will work with ESL, dubbed the world’s largest e-sports company, and Sliver.tv, a 360º VR entertainment platform, to broadcast the tournament, which runs in New York between October 1-2.

Participants will be playing the multiplayer first-person shooter video game CS:GO (Counter-Strike: Global Offensive).

Viewers can watch ESL One New York via a website, on a mobile device or a VR headset, as well as on Google Cardboard, for the first time next month.

Stuart Ewen, product manager at ESL, said: “This new method of broadcasting gives viewers a taste of what it’s like to be in the arena at an e-sports mega event and a brand new perspective on top level CS:GO through in-game virtual cameras.

“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,” added Ewen.

Wonderworld VR was founded last year by Romanus, the former head of programming at Shine Group’s Friday TV.