English rock band Muse has announced plans for an interactive stadium experience as part of a link-up with virtual reality metaverse platform Stageverse.
‘Enter The Simulation’ will give fans the chance to sample a stadium-sized Muse concert in virtual form and will use footage captured from a 2019 gig at Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano stadium.
Fans will be able to select an avatar, interact and chat with friends and other fans, and pick their favourite outfit, including a recreation of lead singer Matt Bellamy’s jacket worn on stage.
The immersive experience will be shown in 6K definition and with 16 different 360-degree viewpoints. The experience will be available on mobile devices via the Stageverse app from today (Tuesday), with tickets to be available for free for a limited time.
The event will take place in the virtual Stageverse Stadium and fans will be able to use Oculus Quest headsets to sample the concert, which will replay the full two-hour set from Muse’s gig at the 68,000-seat Wanda Metropolitano.
During the show, which will be available worldwide, fans will be able to navigate between the various viewpoints by using the map function within the Stageverse app. The available viewpoints will change throughout each song in the performance based on where the action is.
The Wanda Metropolitano show took place on July 26, 2019 and formed part of the band’s Simulation Theory tour.
“Simulation Theory has always been about creating experiences that redefine the human role in programming and technology,” Bellamy said, according to NME. “We can’t wait for our fans to be able to truly immerse themselves in our Simulation Theory world and take full advantage of everything that the Stageverse experience will offer.”
Tim Ricker, Stageverse co-founder and chief executive, added: “We’re focused on creating a place where your digital identity and culture can live and thrive, and that starts with a high fidelity, premium, and accessible experience.
“As a result, we are attracting forward-thinking partners such as Muse, Balmain, and Shantell Martin, who are looking to provide an elevated metaverse experience to their communities. By rolling out our NFT economy and marketplace next, we will unlock community capitalism to the fullest extent.
“When a customer becomes a participant through ownership of their digital identity and goods, they are motivated to invest and create value for themselves and in turn the entire community.”
In November 2018, ahead of the band’s Simulation Theory World Tour, Muse announced details of a virtual reality experience for fans through a partnership with Microsoft.
The Enhanced Experience Package gave fans access to an exclusive mixed reality pre-show party, which featured three original virtual reality games inspired by tracks on the Simulation Theory album.
The front-row-seat package also included a premium concert ticket, show-specific poster, interactive photo experience and memorabilia.
