Major League Baseball launches new MLB app on Apple Vision Pro to continue revolutionizing the sports viewing experience
Major League Baseball today unveiled its brand new MLB App for Apple Vision Pro, the revolutionary new spatial computer that seamlessly blends digital content with the physical world, while allowing users to stay present and connected to others. This in-house built expansion of the MLB App was created specifically for VisionOS and continues to revolutionize the sports viewing experience. The all-new MLB app for Apple Vision Pro provides users a new level of agency in their viewing experience, allowing fans to customize the way they enjoy baseball.
“Baseball fans seek out connection with their favorite teams and players with the greatest possible level of depth – Apple Vision Pro provides us an entirely new way to present the national pastime to fans in their own space, no matter where they are, with remarkable depth, clarity, and sound,” said Noah Garden, Deputy Commissioner, Business & Media, Major League Baseball. “Thanks to Apple’s remarkable ingenuity and our incredibly talented staff at MLB, fans can transform their space into a Major League ballpark and surround themselves in a rich, spatial experience that was previously impossible, all while enjoying a more immersive viewing experience.”
While watching a game in the MLB app on Apple Vision Pro, users can enter a fully immersive viewing environment with a variety of three-dimensional, enhanced data visualizations, powered by the award-winning Statcast, MLB’s state-of-the-art tracking technology. At release, fans will have unrestricted access to experience the thrilling, 11-inning classic Game One of the 2023 World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers with interactive statistics, play-by-play and other spatial features that can be fully controlled by the user. Apple Vision Pro also enables users the ability to place their viewing experience within a digitally rendered MLB ballpark as if they were watching on a stadium’s videoboard just steps away. Additionally, fans can interact spatially with the MLB App on Apple Vision Pro while also exploring other applications at the same time.
An updated version of the MLB app on Apple Vision Pro is slated to be delivered around Opening Day and will include access to additional MLB.TV content for subscribers of the world’s longest running OTT platform. Users with MLB.TV subscriptions will be able to surround themselves with both live games and on-demand content in this completely customizable, dynamic environment. Additional details and features developed specifically for VisionOS will be announced at a future date.
Garden added: “Technological innovation is at the heart of Major League Baseball. We’ve been evolving sports broadcasting for decades for the betterment of our fans – from the first games on radio, broadcast, cable and satellite to livestreaming and launching MLB Network. If there is an opportunity for a baseball fan to enjoy our sport on any given platform, then we need to have a presence where we can deliver unique storytelling experiences. And we will continue this approach to constantly meet the needs of our fans.”
MLB and Apple have a long history of leveraging innovative technologies to provide incredible experiences for fans extending back to the creation of the App Store in 2008 when the MLB app (then known as At Bat), was the first and only sports app launched among the initial 500 apps for iPhone. In 2009, MLB launched the first live video subscription product accessible across wired and wireless with the debut of MLB.TV subscription access for iPhone. In 2010, MLB was one of only three companies chosen to participate in introduction of Apple iPad; then MLB became the first to stream live video to iPads. In 2011, MLB was the first company to stream live video on Apple TV. In 2012 MLB was the first to implement Apple Passbook technology, while in 2013 MLB was the first to publicly demonstrate Apple iBeacon technology. In 2014, MLB installed iBeacon technology in 28 ballparks, the first venues in professional sports to have permanent installations of the Apple technology. In 2015, MLB was the only media company chosen to demonstrate its new app for Apple TV on-stage at an Apple press event. In 2016, MLB collaborated with Apple to create new on-field capabilities utilizing the iPad Pro, including: advanced scouting, analytics, and video app called MLB Dugout. Since the 2016 season, managers, coaches, and players of each club have had easy access to valuable baseball insights. In 2022, Apple and MLB announced “Friday Night Baseball,” the first sport to be livestreamed on Apple TV+. Now, as MLB enters its 22nd season streaming live games, the league and Apple have once again developed an entirely new way for fans to engage with America’s National Pastime – with the MLB App on Apple Vision Pro.