HADO: The VR Sport of the Future!

E-sports are becoming increasingly popular. Not only in the Netherlands, but more and more large-scale e-sports events are being organized worldwide. Mostly, these are sports where players compete online against each other behind a computer screen or a console, but HADO is changing this. 

HADO can best be described as virtual dodgeball. It's an e-sport and combines physical movement with virtual gaming. With the help of augmented reality technology, a player can see both the real physical space and a virtual playing field and ball. These are displayed in the augmented reality headset that the player wears during the game.

When a HADO game starts, the player can throw so-called 'Hadoken' balls. Players can also defend themselves against attacks with a shield. HADO is played on a field where each team has its own side. HADO matches can be played 2 against 2 or 3 against 3 and has 4 rounds of 80 seconds each. The team with the most points at the end of these 4 rounds is the winner. Watch a video of what a HADO match looks like here.

Besides being a physically intensive sport, HADO is also a very tactical sport. You and your team can devise and determine a strategy. For every round you play, you get a number of points that you can assign to your hadoken power-ups. For example, you can increase the speed or size of the balls you throw, shorten your recharge time, or increase the number of shields you have. By distributing these points tactically with your team, you can gain an advantage over the opponents and secure the victory.

HADO uses augmented reality technology. This is different from, for example, virtual reality. In virtual reality, everything around a user is virtual. The entire environment is therefore replaced by a digital environment. This is not the case with augmented reality. Instead of the entire physical environment being replaced by a virtual environment, with AR technology only a small part is made digital. In the case of HADO, you still see the real physical environment in front of you, but you see a digital hadoken ball flying towards and away from you. You need to deflect or repel these digital balls with the shield. Want to know more about the differences between VR and AR? Read our blog on the differences between VR, AR, and MR then read through.

Originally, HADO comes from Japan. In Japan, HADO is embraced by a large audience and real competitions are organized (with serious prize money). In the Netherlands, HADO is less well known, but the sport is making significant progress. There are various centres in the Netherlands (ranging from sports centres to entertainment halls) that already offer HADO. And they all indicate the same thing: HADO is the sport of the future!

Did you become enthusiastic about virtual or augmented reality technology after reading this article? And do you want to apply this in your own location or environment? That's possible! We would be happy to put you in contact with the right people. Schedule a non-binding advisory conversation with one of our specialists or get in touch directly with our digital tech specialist.

Would you like to experience HADO for yourself? You can do so in one of the HADO Arenas. Visit hado.nl for more information and to book your session!