Together with EA Sports FIFA Mobile and Jacquard by Google, adidas today launches adidas GMR – an innovation that merges physical football and digital gaming, giving players the power to play connected by improving their FIFA Mobile Ultimate Team overall rating (OVR) through real-world play using the Jacquard by Google Tag.
“Adidas is committed to innovation that enables an athlete’s game, regardless of the game they play,” Moritz Kloetzner, director of business development for adidas Football, said. “adidas GMR lives at the intersection of gaming and the material world because that’s where the audience is. By exploring and challenging traditional approaches to product development, alongside Jacquard by Google and EA SPORTS FIFA Mobile, we have been able to equip players with a whole new way to use their creativity for the betterment of sport.”
The adidas GMR insole can be placed within any type of footwear. Once in place, the innovation will empower players to complete challenges on the street or pitch to unlock in-game rewards, improve their Team OVR and compete in leaderboards.
“We are always looking at how we can bring new experiences to our players that bridge the real-world of football with our virtual world in FIFA Mobile,” Matt Lafreniere, EA Sports FIFA Mobile producer, commented. “With adidas GMR, we are debuting a new way to progress in the game, enabling players to grow their Ultimate Team in FIFA Mobile through the game they love, both on and off the pitch.”
Powered by the Jacquard Tag’s advanced machine-learning algorithms, adidas GMR recognizes the actual physical movements footballers make on-pitch – measuring kicks, shot power, distance and speed. By completing different challenges and hitting longer-term milestones, users will earn rewards and improve their Ultimate Team, powering their players in-game with real-world achievements.
“Jacquard by Google integrates interactivity, connectivity, and A.I. into ordinary everyday things to make them more helpful and enjoyable, like the adidas GMR insole,” said Google’s Ivan Poupyrev. “Using advanced machine learning algorithms, we trained the Jacquard Tag, which is placed within your shoe, to recognize moves that you make on the pitch and reward you with a unique one-of-a-kind gaming experience in EA SPORTS FIFA Mobile. I am excited that Jacquard technology can enable a whole new range of experiences for gamers. The opportunities are endless.”
One of the first challenges is Master Finisher, which sees players tasked with taking 40 powerful shots in the penalty box within a week to earn coins and skill boosts in their FIFA Mobile game. A player’s hardest shot will even be ranked on different leaderboards, giving them the chance to earn bragging rights over their friends.
“We are excited to be supporting the GMR project, an innovation that will enhance the experience for players of FIFA Mobile around the world,” Christian Volk, director FIFA eFootball and Gaming, added. “Innovations that leverage technology to improve the experience of football fans are an important part of FIFA’s strategy.”
Following the previous signing of Ninja as part of its Time In the campaign, the launch of adidas GMR signals a move from adidas to enter the “phygital” gaming space – the latest step on its mission to become the number one sports brand influencing gaming culture.
