Last year I was asked to be a part of a project that was a collaboration with
and as well as the game studio . I was very impressed by their desire to develop
rather than adapt a traditional sports into the virtual realm. I was also impressed by their commitment to supporting overall health and wellness.ASICS VenturesWhen I first began writing about VR games in 2017, my objective was to build positive communities and support developers creating accessible, inclusive games that encouraged overall wellness. People frequently comment on how those articles made a positive impact on them, and while I continue to do a lot of community work, it’s exciting to see that we’ve entered a new era where one of the world’s most influential sports brands recognizes the value of immersive sport.MetaToday ASICS announces the development of m ss ng p eces, a virtual sport conceived and designed specifically for virtual reality!a new sporthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5v7frun_tc
Borderless SportsDISCAs we’ve seen with VR esports over the past eight years, the world of traditional physical sports is becoming increasingly intertwined with digital advancements as people desire both physicality and technology. ASICS’ initiative will expand the boundaries of sport and inspire a new generation of athletes.
Ultimately, it would be fantastic to see games like DISC featured in the world’s foremost sports competition – the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee has recognized the growth of esports in recent years. In fact, they launched the Olympic Esports Series, holding an online competition in 2021, followed by an in-person event in Singapore in 2023.Earlier this year, during the 142
nd
IOC Session at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the committee voted to rebrand the series as the
, with the inaugural competitions set to be held in 2025 in Saudi Arabia.
ASICS has embraced the phrase “borderless sports,” which is relevant and beautiful – not only from the perspective of supporting body and mind, but also because sports really can bring people together, cross borders, and change lives. Virtual reality enables people to play a physical sport with others around the world, and DISC is built on ASICS’ philosophy that everyone can benefit from the mental and physical stimulation of physical activity.Player prepares for VR esports competition at OC5 in 2018CommunityOlympic Esports GamesDISC is designed to be accessible to players of all skill levels, and the community is being built from the ground up with inclusivity and engagement in mind.
“DISC is about uniting people through the power of sport and creating a global community where we can grow together. Joe Pace is Vice President of ASICS Ventures, and the project leader for DISC. He said that sports are a way to test both our body and brain, and bring out our best.
We’ve seen the exponential growth of VR communities over the past several years, and this trend is expected to continue. While the developers continue to build the game, community development through engagement and feedback will take place on the
, where we’ll gradually add online activities, early access, assets for creators, information about events, and more.
Athletes, enthusiasts, and innovators are encouraged to help shape the sport of DISC, and we warmly invite you to embark on this exciting journey with us!Quick Links