Sony, Manchester City plan to build their own Metaverse

Aims to get fans of both brands together at the virtual Etihad Stadium

Sony has announced building a virtual world with the soccer club Manchester City. 

At the CES 2023, the company said that 'the Proof of Concept' will let fans participate in activities at the virtual Etihad Stadium with their own custom avatars.

In an official video released, the virtual avatars are seen running around the stadium and the ground, dancing and celebrating.

Avatars, 3D images, and “other expressions unique to the metaverse” will enable players to communicate in a unique way, according to Nami Iwamoto, Sony's Senior Product Planner.

Proof of Concept also features virtual recreations of big highlights from multiple angles, like the perspectives of individual players.

Sony captured footage and volumetric data of Manchester City players using seven sensors to recreate them digitally for the metaverse.

The idea seems to be designed for lower specced devices, where the video shows people using their smartphones to access the virtual world.

According to Sony's press release, players would be able to create their own custom avatars, while the app is set to be released in 2023, said spokesperson Yo Kikuchi. However, the countries and regions it will be released in are “still under consideration.”

It is pertinent to note that the company was already building Metaverse for PlayStation games