Sports

NFL, NFLPA and StatusPRO Announce the Next NFL PRO ERA Featuring C.J. Stroud and Micah Parsons as Cover Athletes

Published

2 years ago

August 28, 2024

New York and Miami, Fla. – The National Football League, the National Football League Players Association and StatusPRO, Inc., an immersive entertainment company that leverages extended reality technology to deliver first-person sports experiences, announced today its NFL PRO ERA will move to a live service model and feature a deeper NFL gaming experience with upgrades and additions that allow you to control and compete on both sides of the ball with every NFL team. Fans can continue to lead their teams as a quarterback, and new for this year can now play linebacker where they can rush the quarterback, record sacks, make tackles and nab interceptions. The 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year with the Houston Texans, quarterback C.J. Stroud will be the featured cover athlete of NFL PRO ERA, along with two-time First-Team All-Pro and Dallas Cowboys star, linebacker Micah Parsons.

“It’s an honor to be one of the featured athletes of an incredible game that mirrors playing quarterback in real life,” said Stroud. “I love what the team is doing at StatusPRO, and once we started conversing, I knew I wanted to be involved with NFL PRO ERA and the vision they have to be the best VR game.”

“I am a huge gamer, especially VR games and football, so being a cover athlete and playing a key role in NFL PRO ERA is an awesome experience,” said Parsons. “Once I talked with the StatusPRO team and they wanted to add defense to the new version of the game, I knew I wanted to work with them and was thrilled when they wanted me as a feature athlete.”

NFL PRO ERA is an immersive, first-person simulation that brings fans closer to the gridiron by giving them a professional football player’s perspective through VR technology. NFL PRO ERA is one of the most successful sports franchises in VR history. StatusPRO has improved the original gameplay of NFL PRO ERA with smarter AI teammates and opponents, a whole new way to play with defense and the opportunity for users to personalize and immerse themselves through new customizations such as custom gear, stadiums and hairstyles.

There will also be improved play styles of teams and players that are closely aligned with current-day formations. NFL PRO ERA will be a faster, more user-friendly game. By removing the sideline experience and adding a new user interface and wristband controls, users can experience smoother gameplay and more intuitive controls. Additional features of the game include real-time feedback from your teammates as they react and respond to you and your quarterback leadership on and off the field along with more intensity and audio based on different game scenarios.

“We want to provide our loyal fans and gamers with something new and revolutionary in our next version of NFL PRO ERA. By adding defense to the game, we aim to bring something unique to the VR gaming world,” said Victor Lugo, StatusPRO’s new chief product officer. “It was important for users to feel like real leaders of their team on both sides of the ball. Being one of the first VR games to have a realistic defensive experience, we made sure that fans have the true feeling of being the defensive anchor when they are on the field.”

Users who have either of the first two versions of the game will see an update giving them access to customizations, and full access to all free play modes and mini-games. The 2025 edition will be available for current players at $19.99 and new players at $39.99. It will include the new defense single-player mode, updated rosters, team t-shirts, cosmetics and more. An updated multiplayer experience that will

feature offensive vs. defensive head-to-head matchups will be released this winter. Additional content packs will be available throughout the season, starting at $4.99.

NFL PRO ERA will be available on Meta Quest during the 2024 NFL season.

Central Florida News

Osceola Magic Set Franchise Steals Record in 97-89 Season-Opening Win

Published

10 hours ago

November 11, 2026

FNN NEWS

Osceola Magic guard JD Davison, No. 4, dribbles between Oklahoma City Blue defenders as Magic teammate No. 22 looks on.

Osceola Magic guard JD Davison (4) drives between Oklahoma City Blue defenders during opening-night action in Kissimmee, Fla. Photo by Bernie Walls / Florida National News.

Davison scores 26 points, Branham adds 23 and Osceola records 23 steals to open its season with a victory at Silver Spurs Arena.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The Osceola Magic opened their season with a record-setting defensive performance, collecting 23 steals and forcing 35 turnovers in a 97-89 victory over the Oklahoma City Blue on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Silver Spurs Arena.

JD Davison scored a game-high 26 points and Malaki Branham added 23 as Osceola established a franchise record for steals and matched its record for opponent turnovers. Osceola Magic

Defense drives the comeback

Oklahoma City led 31-22 after the first quarter and 44-43 at halftime. Osceola pulled even at 70 entering the fourth quarter, then outscored the Blue 27-19 over the final period.

The victory gave Osceola a 1-0 start and dropped Oklahoma City to 0-2. Zhaire Smith led the Blue with 19 points, while Christoph Tilly contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds. gleague.nba.com

Osceola’s defensive pressure helped offset Oklahoma City’s early advantage. The Blue finished just 5 of 29 from 3-point range, shooting 17.2%.

Six Magic players recorded multiple steals, led by Johnell Davis’ career-high six — one short of the franchise record. Davison collected four, Jarron Cumberland had three, and Ace Baldwin Jr., Branham and Mike Sharavjamts each added two.

Osceola Magic’s Malaki Branham, wearing a black No. 22 jersey, dribbles low while driving alongside an Oklahoma City Blue defender.

Malaki Branham leans into his drive while keeping his dribble low as an Oklahoma City Blue defender guards him during the Osceola Magic’s season opener. Photo by Bernie Walls / Florida National News.

Davison and Branham lead the offense

Davison and Branham combined for 49 points, accounting for more than half of Osceola’s scoring.

Au’Diese Toney contributed 14 points in his return to Osceola, including a late 3-pointer that helped secure the victory.

Davis provided another boost off the bench with 11 points and a career-best-tying four assists, complementing his disruptive defensive performance.

Sharavjamts makes professional debut

Sharavjamts posted a team-best plus-12 rating in 24 minutes during his professional debut. Osceola outscored Oklahoma City by 12 points while he was on the floor. Osceola Magic

What’s next for the Osceola Magic?

Following a scheduled road matchup with the Memphis Hustle on Tuesday, Nov. 10, Osceola returns to Silver Spurs Arena to host the Mexico City Capitanes on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. Eastern. Member News

The Magic’s challenge will be to sustain the defensive pressure that helped them overcome an early nine-point deficit in the opener.

Sports

LIV Golf to begin winding down operations Nov. 9 after five years, $5 billion spent

Published

5 days ago

November 7, 2026

FNN SPORTS

LIV Golf sign in a landscaped setting in Orlando, Florida. Photo by Florida National News

NEW YORK CITY, NY (FNN SPORTS) – LIV Golf plans to begin winding down operations Monday, Nov. 9, following five years and more than $5 billion in spending.

Attorney Matthew Williams outlined the league’s plans during a bankruptcy court hearing Thursday, Nov. 5, in New Jersey. The process includes selling its remaining assets.

“We believe the wind down path is the best path,” Williams told the court.

LIV Golf confirmed the decision after a proposed restructuring deal fell through. The league said it will continue considering alternatives during the shutdown process.

Basketball

USF Women’s Basketball Opens Season With 80–54 Victory Over Furman

Published

6 days ago

November 5, 2026

NISEY LOU S.

TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — On Monday November 2, at the Yuengling Center, the South Florida women’s basketball team opened with a successful debut undernew head coach Kristy Curry.

The Bulls established control early with a 9–0 opening run, taking a 27–12 lead after the first quarter. Furman narrowed the margin before halftime, but South Florida maintained a 46–32 advantage heading into the break.

A dominant third quarter proved decisive, as USF outscored Furman 23–9 to extend its lead to 69–41 entering the fourth.

Balanced Scoring Leads the Bulls

Stefanie Ingram led South Florida with 15 points, followed by Hannah Kohn with 13 and Kendall Puryear with 12 points and nine rebounds.

The Bulls placed six players in double figures, shot 51.6 percent from the field and controlled the boards with a 48–25 rebounding advantage.

A Winning Debut for Kristy Curry

The victory marked Curry’s first win leading South Florida after arriving from Alabama.

Ahead of the season opener, Curry expressed confidence in the program’s potential:

“I’m so excited to be here. I truly think the sky’s the limit at USF.”

— Kristy Curry, USF Head Coach, in pregame remarks published by USF Athletics.

South Florida (1–0) will face Belmont on Friday, November 6, in Nashville, Tennessee.

– Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact sports@FloridaNationalNews.com