Kotaku reports that the UFC PPVs will be available on XBox 360 Dec. 1st and its first live event will be UFC 140. Dana White made the announcementabout PPVs on the game console this past summer at E3.
Via Kotaku:
Watching the the MMA promotion’s fights on Xbox 360 will let you and your XBL friends predict winners, with the results of the pseudo-wagering kept on a leaderboard. The PPVs will stream in 720 and you’ll be able to navigate through the content with Kinect, if you like actually moving your arms.
Here are some more amenities that the Xbox 360-UFC deal will provide. (via Middle Easy through the UFC press release):
- Live and On-Demand Video – Event previews, UFC Countdown, press conferences, weigh-ins, interviews, workouts, highlights, and more, together for the first time on your big screen.
- Streaming HD Quality in 720p – UFC fans demand stunning HD viewing, and Xbox LIVE brings the most premium streaming HD to the big screen.
- Pay-Per-View with Ease – The biggest pay-per-view fights available to all Xbox LIVE members in HD and SD pricing options. Purchase directly with your credit card, Microsoft Points not required.
- Interactive Fight Card with Predictions – Size up the fighters with the tale of the tape and view their past fight results. Predict upcoming fights, compare results with friends for points and bragging rights, and see where you stand against them on the leaderboard, all accessible while watching the fight so you’ll never have to leave the excitement of the Octagon.
- Control the action with Kinect – Focus on the fight instead of looking for the remote. Navigate through the video content, bring up the Interactive Fight Card, or play, pause, and rewind that big punch, kick or submission…all with the magic of Kinect.
No word on the price of purchasing the PPV on Xbox 360 or if you can use XBox points toward the purchase. I’m not up on using the “points” on the system but I will ask a source (my 9 year old nephew) and get back to you.
The initial announcement stated that the UFC PPV would be available only to XBox 360 Live subscribers.
H/t: MMA Metrics
Payout Perspective:
As we pointed out back when the UFC made the initial announcement, the partnership with Microsoft means another mainstream sponsor comes on board with the organization. You may also see more fighters being sponsored by Xbox 360 on the 140 card for branding purposes. No word if Demetrious Johnson (XBox 360’s sole sponsored fighter) will be on the card but it would not be surprising if he made it back in time. Regardless, the UFC-XBox 360 partnership is one reason why Jon Jones was put on this card (as well as it being in MMA crazed Canada) to defend his title. It also is another experiment in finding other platforms for the UFC to air PPVs.
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