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Easy Life to headline virtual O2 Arena within Fortnite
By Andy Malt | Published on Tuesday 22 June 2021
The O2 Arena has announced that later this week it will be opening its doors for a performance by Easy Life to anyone and everyone who wants to come in. No restrictions at all. Although, with the legalities of doing that in the real world still very much working against venues everywhere, this will all actually be happening virtually within the Fortnite video game.
Showing off the Fortnite Creative platform, which allows users to design and share their own games and experiences within the Fortnite ecosystem, the O2 Arena has been painstakingly recreated as a virtual venue for the event. Not just that though, they’ve added new areas and experiences that can’t be accessed in the physical venue.
While people watch Easy Life perform songs from their recent Island Records released ‘Life’s A Beach’ album, the venue will change based on the music and lyrics of each track. There’s also a brand new song from the band which will only be accessible within the virtual venue.
“Being the first UK act to ever perform in Fortnite Creative, and for that performance to take place inside a venue as iconic as The O2, is truly humbling”, says Easy Life’s Murray Matravers. “‘Life’s A Beach’ is a deeply personal album that marks the culmination of our life’s work and we can’t wait to finally perform it for our fans. We’re so excited for people to experience our music in the game – it promises to be a lot of fun and is just a taste of things to come ahead of our UK tour of O2 Academy venues later this year”.
As well as The O2, the big virtual venue project also involves actual O2. As in, the venue’s phone firm sponsor. Whose Head Of Brand And Consumer Marcomms, Simon Valcarcel, adds: “We couldn’t be prouder to work alongside both Island Records and Epic Games to bring such an incredible experience to O2 customers and music fans all over the world via Fortnite Creative”.
“O2 has a rich heritage in music”, he waffles on, “and we’re committed to providing music fans with unique experiences, so it’s only fitting that we’re bringing the world’s most popular entertainment venue into the world’s biggest game. We know how much everyone – us included – has missed going to gigs, so we’re excited to bring the UK’s hottest up-and-coming band to music fans globally through Fortnite Creative”.
Meanwhile, Nate Nanzer, Head Of Global Partnerships at Fortnite maker Epic Games, comments: “We were THRILLED when we were approached with the idea to bring The O2, one of the most iconic entertainment venues on the planet, to Fortnite Creative”.
“We’re always looking for exciting and authentic experiences to bring to our players, and we can’t wait for them to get hands-on with this interactive musical journey”, he adds. “We’re excited to have the UK’s breakout band Easy Life perform in the game and we think our players are really going to love exploring all that The O2 has to offer in Fortnite Creative over the next week”.
The doors of the virtual O2 Arena will open at 8.30pm UK time on 24 Jun and remain accessible until 27 Jun. Those unable or unwilling to head into Fortnite itself will be able to watch the band’s performance via YouTube from 28 Jun.
