Can you watch Super Bowl 2024 on Apple’s Vision Pro?

Apple has unleashed its latest technological marvel, the $3,499 Vision Pro mixed-reality headset, promising a fusion of immersive digital experiences with the real world. Not surprisingly, sports leagues didn’t take long to jump on the bandwagon - wait, maybe ‘catch the VR wave’ is a more appropriate equivalent - developing apps for this cutting-edge device. The question on many people’s minds, however, given the timing of the launch just nine days before the event, is whether or not you can watch Super Bowl LVIII on Vision Pro?

What sports apps has Apple’s Vision Pro covered?

Major sports leagues, including baseball’s MLB, basketball’s NBA, soccer’s MLS and the PGA Tour of golf, are among the pioneers in embracing Vision Pro. These leagues are set to redefine the sports-watching experience by offering live and archival games in stunning 4K resolution. The immersive experience doesn’t stop there, though, as users can delve into interactive statistics and three-dimensional enhanced data visualizations, all at their fingertips, quite literally, thanks to hand gesture technology as well as eye tracking and speech recognition. Kevin O’Connor shared this trial run on NBA.

However, the Vision Pro encounters challenges familiar to sports in virtual reality, notably the conflict with the social aspect of watching live games. Leagues are working on synchronised experiences, allowing geographically separated users to watch live games together. Yet, the question remains - will people opt to don the headset when watching games together in a real-world setting? Did you see this at a recent NBA game?

Super Bowl and Vision Pro

As far as we can tell you at the time of writing, there’s not going to be anything particularly special for the Vision Pro and the climax to the NFL season this year. That said, Apple has already announced that along with the sports leagues mentioned above, Disney+, ESPN, Max, Discovery+, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, Peacock, Pluto TV, Tubi, Fubo, Crunchyroll, Red Bull TV, IMAX, TikTok, and MUBI, will all be available with it. And fans are eager to see what that could bring to their matchday experience from home, noting that Paramount+ is the streaming platform for CBS which will be showing the 49ers-Chiefs clash live.

Apple’s Halftime Show on Vision Pro?

If you didn’t already know, the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show (to give it its full title) is clearly getting some people excited that there could be an agreement in place to add extra value to the performance from Usher. If not live, some have suggested that Apple may record their sponsored show and give a delayed bonus experience to those who have purchased the device. As yet, though, nothing has been confirmed.

How does Vision Pro work anyway?

The Vision Pro boasts a unique ability to seamlessly blend actual and virtual realities into a single experience, potentially revolutionising spatial computing. Live sporting events, theme park rides, and even Disney movies are being reimagined within the Vision Pro’s mixed-reality canvas.

Walt Disney, a longtime collaborator with Apple, is set to dazzle users with an app designed for the Vision Pro. Disney+ envelops viewers in various environments, allowing them to watch iconic films like “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” or “Avengers: Endgame” in unprecedented ways. The device’s potential as a successor to traditional television and computers at work is a topic of debate. While the high price point and limited initial production suggest a slow adoption curve, industry experts believe it could redefine computing platforms.