NEW YORK and MIAMI -- The NFL, the NFL Players Association and StatusPRO, Inc., an immersive entertainment company that leverages extended reality technology to deliver first-person sports experiences, announced Wednesday the NFL PRO ERA will move to a live service model and feature a deeper NFL gaming experience with upgrades and additions that allow you to control and compete on both sides of the ball with every NFL team. Fans can continue to lead their teams as a quarterback, and new for this year can now play linebacker where they can rush the quarterback, record sacks, make tackles and nab interceptions. The 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year with the Houston Texans, quarterback C.J. Stroud will be the featured cover athlete of NFL PRO ERA, along with two-time first-team All-Pro and Dallas Cowboys star, linebacker Micah Parsons.
“It's an honor to be one of the featured athletes of an incredible game that mirrors playing quarterback in real life," said Stroud. “I love what the team is doing at StatusPRO, and once we started conversing, I knew I wanted to be involved with NFL PRO ERA and the vision they have to be the best VR game."
“I am a huge gamer, especially VR games and football, so being a cover athlete and playing a key role in NFL PRO ERA is an awesome experience," said Parsons. “Once I talked with the StatusPRO team and they wanted to add defense to the new version of the game, I knew I wanted to work with them and was thrilled when they wanted me as a feature athlete."
NFL PRO ERA is an immersive, first-person simulation that brings fans closer to the gridiron by giving them a professional football player's perspective through VR technology. NFL PRO ERA is one of the most successful sports franchises in VR history. StatusPRO has improved the original gameplay of NFL PRO ERA with smarter AI teammates and opponents, a whole new way to play with defense and the opportunity for users to personalize and immerse themselves through new customizations such as custom gear, stadiums and hairstyles.
There will also be improved play styles of teams and players that are closely aligned with current-day formations. NFL PRO ERA will be a faster, more user-friendly game. By removing the sideline experience and adding a new user interface and wristband controls, users can experience smoother gameplay and more intuitive controls. Additional features of the game include real-time feedback from your teammates as they react and respond to you and your quarterback leadership on and off the field along with more intensity and audio based on different game scenarios.
“We want to provide our loyal fans and gamers with something new and revolutionary in our next version of NFL PRO ERA. By adding defense to the game, we aim to bring something unique to the VR gaming world," said Victor Lugo, StatusPRO's new chief product officer. “It was important for users to feel like real leaders of their team on both sides of the ball. Being one of the first VR games to have a realistic defensive experience, we made sure that fans have the true feeling of being the defensive anchor when they are on the field."
Users who have either of the first two versions of the game will see an update giving them access to customizations, and full access to all free play modes and mini-games. The 2025 edition will be available for current players at $19.99 and new players at $39.99. It will include the new defense single-player mode, updated rosters, team t-shirts, cosmetics and more. An updated multiplayer experience that will feature offensive vs. defensive head-to-head matchups will be released this winter. Additional content packs will be available throughout the season, starting at $4.99.
NFL PRO ERA will be available on Meta Quest during the 2024 NFL season.