Many a soccer enthusiast has long dreamed of feeling the rush of being on the field during a match. Now, a revolutionary virtual reality program makes that dream a reality. On the heels of significant advancements in player tracking using iPhone cameras to recreate on-field events, the English Premier League once again serves as a testing ground for cutting-edge technology. Rezzil, a UK-based company in the sports VR space, is launching its Premier League Player game just before the holidays. Built on real-life player mechanics derived from data collected by iPhone cameras on the sidelines, this game allows users to virtually step onto the pitch and reenact actual EPL plays with astonishing precision.

How We Got Here

Rezzil isn't new to virtual-reality sports. In 2021, the company debuted the Rezzil Player program across various VR platforms. This sports training game combines cognitive and gaming elements, featuring over 150 levels and drills in multiple sports like soccer, football, and basketball. It also includes sport-agnostic drills to enhance reaction times. The user base is diverse, with NFL quarterbacks using on-field simulations for timing and pocket presence, pro F1 drivers using interactive drills to sharpen reaction skills, and NBA trainers using it for drills involving peripheral vision or working memory. It's also enjoyed by a wide range of typical consumers, from youth athletes to fans seeking a gamified experience.I had the opportunity to try Rezzil Player during this story using a Meta Quest headset in my living room. It's a remarkable experience that clearly shows how regular use can improve real-life performance. Whether it's a placebo effect or not, I felt my response times sharpening after just 15 minutes of reaction-time drills. It also serves as a reminder of the extraordinary abilities of the world's best athletes. Worldwide leaderboards are available for every drill, and many of the scores seem almost impossible for an average person.Rezzil's ultimate goal has always been to bring fans as close as possible to their sport in a virtual space. The EPL's move to next-generation optical camera tracking for offside calls was a technological breakthrough that enabled Rezzil to create realistic virtual avatars of athletes in motion. Using computer vision programs that track up to 10,000 points on each player's body at high frame rates during real-life gameplay, Rezzil recreates on-field events with remarkable accuracy. The result is a product that combines the cognitive benefits of the original Rezzil Player with a more traditional video game feel.After the public launch, the early days of Premier League Player will be a crucial testing ground. Even as experts in the sports VR space, the Rezzil team recognizes that the first iteration of the game will need significant refinement based on user feedback. The time between launch and the 2025-26 EPL season's kickoff in August will be used to gather feedback and improve the game.

Kickin’ Around

Rezzil's main focus for Premier League Player was to make the game accessible to the general public, not just soccer enthusiasts. "Someone's grandma could play this," says Adam Dickinson, Rezzil cofounder and design director. "You don't have to be a sportsman."To achieve this accessibility, some compromises were made, especially in the kicking mechanism. Players "kick" by swinging their arms while holding standard VR controllers at their sides, approximating natural leg motions. The default in-game foot is at a 90-degree angle from the leg for passing and receiving, and holding the trigger button extends the foot for a harder shot.Like all game modes, kicking drills place players on digital Premier League fields. They are prompted to kick and receive passes to various targets. Easier settings include "aim assist" and other helpers, while higher levels are more challenging.Dickinson told me that Rezzil has created and tested versions where players kick with their actual feet. These versions require additional VR sensors purchased separately from the headset. Even VR headsets with "inside-out" tracking cameras can't handle these tasks yet. Many popular dance or spatial VR games use up to a dozen sensors to track full bodies, but Dickinson says Rezzil users would only need a couple. By next year, users will be able to kick the virtual ball with their actual feet.In their current form, PLP's kicking drills are the least realistic aspect of the game. However, other features are more natural.As a goalkeeper in my brief time on the virtual soccer pitch, I was particularly impressed with the goalkeeping drills. Shots come from Rezzil-created "shot cannons" and actual 3D renderings of Premier League players. The game assesses your height and arm length and designs shots to challenge your reflexes without requiring you to dive across the room. A public release feature blacks out the screen if you leave the defined boundary space. Taller players will find a room with high ceilings beneficial as some shots come in from above. For now, goalkeeping is done with arms only, but this may change soon.

Memorable Moments

The real highlight of this game is the ability to recreate actual Premier League plays through the Moments feature. Rezzil has taken notable plays from EPL games and split them into "fractions" of the play. You first watch a video of the actual goal, then view a digital rendering of the passes leading up to the final shot.You are then transported onto the pitch, and all 20 Premier League stadiums are featured. You are prompted to complete each "fraction" of the play, taking control of the player and moving the ball to the next phase. Passes and shots are graded not only on accuracy but also on timing.For example, imagine it as a hunting game where you have to hit the target at the right time. The same principle applies to passing. There is only one perfect moment. PLP grades on a sliding scale, with a circle around the intended target displaying Bronze, Silver, or Gold ratings for well-timed passes. Each fraction receives an individual score, and multiple tries result in a slight deduction. The scores for each fraction are combined into a full score, and there is a worldwide leaderboard to compare your performance.The first thing you notice in Moments is the speed. Rezzil initially experimented with slowing down plays on easier settings but realized it ruined the experience. So, the plays are at real Premier League speed. While there are aim assists and other helpers, you are truly immersed in the action.Currently, Moments only requires kicking the ball, but goalkeeping and heading will be added by the next EPL season. The most exciting future possibility is the ability to change history. In the current version, virtual teammates and opponents follow preset paths, but soon, users will have a "dynamic" keeper that reacts to their shots. You can imagine correcting missed free kicks or rewriting history by taking over the role of a keeper or a player and achieving the desired outcome.PLP also has free play features that allow for creative world-building. Players can create their own drills and place targets or shot cannons as they wish.This is just the first iteration of the game, but its value and potential are undeniable. It's definitely recommended for soccer fans of all ages, especially younger generations looking to have fun and improve their skills. "Maybe we'll create some little tactical geniuses in the future through this," says Etches.