Google were showing off the new capabilities of its software development tool for augmented reality (AR), ARCore, Google’s answer to Apple’s ARKit. During the presentation of the upcoming Pixel 2 smartphone, Google demonstrated some of the capabilities of ARCore, including a new way to watch League of Legends matches.

League of Legends is one of the biggest success stories in the esports scene. The phenomenally popular MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) has attracted a huge following, not just of players, though it is hardly short of those, but also of spectators who watch as teams battle it out.

Most people watch matches on a PC, of course. Sometimes when you are on the go, it’s not possible to watch on a big monitor, and users had to make do with watching on a smartphone screen – until now.

Using the new ARCore toolset on a Pixel 2 smartphone, it will be possible to watch League of Legends in augmented reality, allowing spectators to see every play in much better detail. Also available will be a Lego app that uses ARCore to allow users to build Lego figures and models in AR and have them move around, such as a Lego astronaut zooming around in a spaceship. Similar to other apps using ARKIt, Houzz lets users select and personalise furniture they wish to buy to make sure it fits in with the existing décor as well as physically fitting in the designated space.

The camera on the Google Pixel 2 camera has been specially optimised for use with AR, with a 12.2 megapixel camera, which has been given a score of 98 by DXO, the highest camera score ever awarded to a smartphone camera, with the iPhone 8 Plus coming in just below at 94. The Pixel 2 pre-orders will open later today.

VRFocus will bring you further new on Google’s AR and VR projects as it becomes available.