Live NBA is coming to Google’s VR platform

NextVR has expanded its NBA virtual reality coverage, now offering it on more than one headset and in countries other than the US. Along with the current Samsung Gear VR offering, you can now catch broadcasts on Google’s Daydream platform in Canada, the UK, Germany and Australia. If you’re willing to pay a hefty $200 for the NBA League Pass, that means you can see one live game per week in 180 degree VR on Daydream View or Cardboard headsets, along with highlights and features like “Best Dunks.”

You’ll need to download the NextVR app on Google Play to use Daydream (and have a Daydream-compatible Android phone), or visit the Oculus Store with a Gear VR. From there, you’ll get an experience that is more akin to sitting courtside than watching TV, in terms of how it feels, though NextVR does switch between eight RED-based cameras to give you the best view. As I noticed with the Rio Olympics, the feed can reportedly get very pixelated, which isn’t surprising considering the bandwidth requirements and headset resolution limitations.

In all, NextVR broadcasts have received generally good reviews, though. If you already have an NBA League Pass and a Samsung or Google Pixel phone, we’d call it a no-brainer to get the Daydream View or Gear VR headset, since they’re both less than $100. However, it’d be a stretch to sign up for the service just to get VR matches, given the quality limitations. In a year or two, however, VR sports might be good enough to become a fan destination on their own.