In an unprecedented move, legendary Spanish soccer club FC Barcelona, home to Lionel Messi for 21 years, has launched video game platform Barça Games, the first of its kind created by a sports club.
Developed jointly by FC Barcelona, Mas Ros Media and FireSPORTS, Barça Games was unveiled Nov. 8 at the FC Barcelona museum headquarters in Barcelona, Spain.
The new platform will not only offer games but also a variety of streaming content, including series, documentaries and movies catering to the gaming community.
Slated to launch in April next year, Barça Games forms part of the Club’s aim to create digital content for entertainment, together with the mission to approach new audiences and reach new generations of fans.
The presentation took place in the Barça Immersive Tour, the largest immersive room in a sporting museum in Europe, and was attended by FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta as well as Marcos Santana, the founder of Mas Ros Media, and Rodrigo Figueroa Reyes, founder and CEO of FireSPORTS.
“The creation of the Barça Games platform is in response to the Club’s wish to continue 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 Laporta of the club which, in 2022 and for two consecutive years, was the leader in fan engagement, boasting over 1.4 million interactions globally. It solidified its status as the most followed sports entity on social media, with a staggering 400 million followers.
Mas Ros Media founder Marcos Santana, pointed out that “broadband fragmented entertainment, sport and video games combined will become 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 sports in the entire world.”
Rodrigo Figueroa Reyes, founder and CEO of FireSPORTS, noted: “Barça Games will become a dream for the most important brands in the world 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.”
Currently in development, the platform will soon unveil announcements and events, providing insights into its fusion of traditional sports with gaming. As the anticipated launch date approaches, more details will be revealed. The presentation offered a glimpse into upcoming activities, including music on Spotify, gaming, tournaments, socializing, and an exclusive store for Barça Games merchandise and event tickets. Gamer passes are available now.
Barça Games will feature on-demand content, fostering an interactive global community centered around FC Barcelona. Users can accumulate points for entry into the Virtual Masia, a digital version of the renowned academy, aiming to develop both professional and casual gamers and promote educational initiatives through streaming, broadcasting, production, and social media management.
