On 23 November 2024, a groundbreaking classical concert simultaneously took place in the real world and the metaverse. It was orchestrated by the BBC’s research and development teams and powered by our venture ’s platform as part of the consortium, which is designed to trial live performances in virtual worlds.

The concert celebrated iconic soundtracks from beloved video game series like God of War, Baldur’s Gate and Fortnite. While those physically present at The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra’s Manchester studio or listening on BBC Radio 3 enjoyed a traditional concert experience, remote fans in the metaverse were immersed in an interactive, unforgettable spectacle.

Attendees were first welcomed into a museum-like space where they explored virtual instruments and listened to soundbites from orchestra members discussing their favourite games. Once the concert began, they were free to watch from a widescreen orchestra viewing area, explore rooms adorned with multiple screens, fly around game-like spaces collecting items, or witness the first ever motion-captured conductor in the metaverse – a key element that drew trailblazing to the event.

This unique experiment was made viable by MSquared’s MILEs (Massive Interactive Live Events) technology, which offers an affordable, scalable, customisable platform for creating virtual events. While The BBC primarily acted as a self-service customer, MSquared remained on-hand throughout to provide insights and design assistance.

The results speak for themselves. Most attendees stayed for the entire duration and there was plenty of chat, with fans raving about the “brilliant experience” and “fun, different way to enjoy a concert”. The virtual world appealed to multiple age groups, with one participant saying “two generations in my family joined and both loved it” and another saying “the kids enjoyed it with me and stayed engaged the whole time”.

Online reviews were equally enthusiastic. Ben Breen of A Young(ish) Perspective (reviewing culture for 18–40s) as a “wonderful, cutting-edge celebration of video games and their music”, highlighting its “surprisingly sociable feel”. And Paul Thomason of Quays Life it was “an ambitious and innovative classical musical event catering for three separate audiences simultaneously”.

Tommy Wilkinson, account manager at MSquared said “working with the BBC was a real treat” and believed the concert had “opened up new avenues for how to run live metaverse events”. MSquared CEO Rob Whitehead added: “This collaboration with the BBC shows how virtual worlds can bring new life to fan culture. By combining modern technology, broadcast media and live classical music, we’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in entertainment and showing how technology can enhance creative expression in unprecedented ways.”