FC Barcelona has launched Barça Games, the first video game platform in the world created by a sports club.
Barça Games, the world’s first video game platform built by a sports club, was unveiled today in keeping with the Club’s long-term goal of introducing projects to build a digital arena where fans can participate in previously imagined ways.
The platform is the result of a partnership between FC Barcelona, Mas Ros Media, and FireSPORTS, and users will have access to a variety of activities designed to encourage engagement with other supporters.
The launch of the new platform is part of the Club’s goal of creating digital entertainment material, as well as its purpose to approach new audiences and reach new generations of fans.
“The creation of the Barça Games platform is a reply to the Club’s wish to continue to be leading in terms of new opportunities and to aid the construction of the Digital Espai Barça, bringing together in a single digital community all those Barça fans we have around the world and strengthening their sense of belonging to FC Barcelona,” said Joan Laoprta in a speech that focused on the club’s leadership in the digital arena.
Sport and video games on the same platform
In his speech, Mas Ros Media founder Marcos Santana emphasizes how the “appearance of broadband fragmented entertainment completely, sport and video games became together leaders in the sector,” adding that Barça Games “represents both in one platform and under the Barça brand, one of the most important and relevant in sport in the entire world.”
According to Rodrigo Figueroa Reyes, founder and CEO of FiReSPORTS, “Barça Games will become a dream for the world’s most important brands because it will allow them to connect with one of the most complex and difficult audiences to reach, via creative, sophisticated, and unique formats from the world-famous FC Barcelona.”
A digital club for Barca fans
The platform is still in development, but there will be announcements and events in the coming months that will offer an indication of the scope of the project that combines traditional sports with gaming and sports.
More specifics will be disclosed as the projected launch date nears; however, throughout the presentation, there was a look ahead to the many activities that would be available to users on the platform.
Listening to music on Spotify, playing their favorite video games, participating in tournaments, socializing with other fans, and having access to an exclusive store where they can purchase Barça Games t-shirts and tickets to concerts and athletic events.
Barça Games will provide on-demand entertainment, creating an engaging digital community centered on FC Barcelona and available to fans worldwide.
Furthermore, users will be able to accumulate points that will allow them to become a part of the Virtual Masia, a unique and world-famous place that has produced some of the most important players in FC Barcelona history, and that will now have a digital version.
As such, the goal of the Virtual Masia will be to develop gamers, both pros and casual users, as well as to promote educational ideals through formats such as streaming, broadcasting, production, and social media management.
