On April 26, 2023, global Web3 technology company OKX and Manchester City jointly announced a new metaverse fan engagement campaign inviting supporters to “Play for the City.” Fans can visit Yahoo’s augmented reality (AR) experience website “playforthecity.com” to create a personalized digital avatar and dress it in player training and pre-match warm-up gear featuring the official branding of Manchester City's training kit sponsor, OKX.

To celebrate the launch, Manchester City will debut a promotional video during their home match against Premier League title contenders Arsenal. The video features giant virtual avatars of top Manchester City players interacting immersively with fans, inviting them to “Play for the City,” while fans can also receive personalized digital avatars wearing co-branded Manchester City and OKX merchandise.

Through this new AR experience, fans can create customized avatars in just seconds, which can then be used across more than 4,000 metaverse games and apps. Additionally, fans who share their avatars on social media using the hashtag #playforthecity will have the chance to win unprecedented grand prizes from Manchester City and OKX.

Haider Rafique, Global Chief Marketing Officer at OKX, said: “Our collaborative metaverse experience with Manchester City reveals a world full of surprises and opportunities. Users enter this world through their avatars—this campaign enhances fan engagement via Web3 technology while showcasing OKX’s commitment to internet innovation.”

Gavin Johnson, Media Director at City Football Group, said: “We are proud to launch this exciting initiative today alongside OKX and Yahoo, combining the expertise of all three partners to enable Manchester City fans worldwide to connect with and participate in club activities in unique and engaging ways. We hope fans truly enjoy the experiences we’ve created.”

This innovative metaverse experience is jointly launched by OKX, Manchester City, and Yahoo. Leveraging Yahoo’s premium content creation team and technological platform, the AR experience brings immersive interactions into everyday life for fans. Yahoo has partnered with Ready Player Me to develop custom AR and avatar experiences, produced player-led videos, and will deploy related content through its demand-side platform (DSP) across digital out-of-home (DOOH) locations, as well as on mobile devices, tablets, and televisions—encouraging Manchester City fans to engage directly.

Josh Partridge, Head of EMEA at Yahoo, commented: “Manchester City and OKX share a common goal—to create fun, engaging, and immersive experiences that allow fans to interact with the club and players in new ways, whether at the stadium, in the city, or in virtual worlds through digital touchpoints. By leveraging Yahoo’s high-quality digital content production capabilities and our ability to reach target audiences at scale, this campaign—and future interactive initiatives—will deepen connections with fans across digital platforms.”

This marks the latest metaverse experience from OKX in partnership with Manchester City, following the launch of football masterclasses led by team captain İlkay Gündoğan and Rúben Dias on the metaverse platform OKX Collective. Fans will be invited into the virtual world of OKX Collective to interact with top Manchester City players such as Alex Greenwood and Jack Grealish, enjoying exclusive experiences.

For more information, please contact: [email protected]

About OKX

OKX is the world’s second-largest digital asset exchange by trading volume, operating a leading Web3 ecosystem trusted by over 50 million users. It is widely recognized by global investors and professional traders as the fastest and most reliable digital asset trading app.

As a premier partner of Premier League champions Manchester City, McLaren Formula 1, and the Tribeca Festival, OKX operates one of the world’s top cryptocurrency trading platforms, offering global users financial services including spot and derivatives trading for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital assets. OKX’s highly acclaimed decentralized ecosystem aggregation platform—its Web3 Wallet—is known as the most powerful Web3 aggregator, integrating a comprehensive suite of products and services such as crypto wallets, NFT markets, DEXs, and DApps, enabling users to seamlessly explore the Web3 universe. For more details about OKX, download the OKX app or visit: okx.com

Disclaimer

This announcement is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, tax, or legal advice, nor should it be construed as an offer to buy, sell, or hold digital assets. Holding digital assets, including stablecoins, involves significant risk and values may fluctuate substantially; you may lose your entire investment. Profits may be subject to capital gains tax. Traders should carefully consider whether trading or holding digital assets is suitable based on their personal financial circumstances. If you have any questions regarding your specific situation, please consult your legal, tax, or investment advisor.