At a glance:
- Virtual livestreams are best when the event needs to deliver a clear message to a broad online audience.
- Immersive events suit brand-led experiences where attendees need to explore content, spaces and interactive features.
- Avatar platforms work best when networking, social participation and real-time attendee interaction are the main goals.
- The right format should be chosen based on the event objective, audience comfort level, production needs and measurement goals.
Virtual events have moved well beyond basic video calls and simple livestreams. Businesses now have access to a range of online event formats, each designed to deliver a different attendee experience.
The three formats most commonly used today are virtual livestreams, immersive event environments and avatar-based platforms. A virtual livestream is centred on watching and listening. An immersive event allows attendees to explore a designed digital space. An avatar platform enables attendees to move through a virtual venue, meet others and interact in real time. Each format suits a different event purpose, audience type and engagement goal.
Choosing the right virtual event format depends on your event objectives and the level of production support available. In this blog, we will explore each format, compare them across key factors and help you identify which option is best suited to your next virtual event.
Understanding Virtual Livestreams, Immersive Events and Avatar Platforms
Before comparing the options, let’s understand what each format actually means.
A virtual livestream is a broadcast-style format in which attendees watch content in real time. Speakers, panels and presentations are delivered to a viewing audience, with chat, Q&A and polling available as optional participation tools. It suits corporate events where clear communication to a large audience is the priority, such as a company-wide update reaching employees across multiple states at once.
In contrast, an immersive virtual event places attendees inside a designed digital environment rather than in front of a broadcast. Attendees can navigate branded spaces, explore content and interact with event features at their own pace. For example, a product launch might let attendees explore a virtual showroom, watch demonstrations and visit sponsor areas within one cohesive space.
An avatar platform creates a venue-like virtual space where each attendee appears as a digital character. Attendees navigate the environment, approach others and hold real-time conversations, similar to moving through a physical event. This makes it the strongest option for networking corporate events, expos or team-building programs where attendee-to-attendee interaction is the priority.
If you’re also weighing virtual events against in-person or hybrid options, understanding the cost and engagement trade-offs across different event formats can help you frame that decision before committing to a platform.
Each format creates a meaningfully different attendee experience. The table below summarises the key differences at a glance:
Factor | Virtual Livestream | Immersive Event | Avatar Platform |
Main experience | Watching a live broadcast | Exploring an interactive virtual event space | Navigating a virtual venue as a digital avatar |
Best for | Webinars, keynotes, updates and presentations | Conferences, launches, exhibitions and brand experiences | Networking, team-building, expos and community events |
Engagement level | Moderate, with chat, Q&A and polls | High, with interactive content and spaces | Very high, with real-time attendee interaction |
Audience accessibility | Highly accessible and familiar | Accessible, with minimal guidance | Engaging, but may require a short onboarding period |
Production complexity | Low to moderate | Moderate to high | High |
How to Choose the Right Virtual Event Format
Understanding the differences between formats is the foundation. Choosing which one is right for your event comes down to a few practical considerations, and working through them before you select a platform will save both time and cost later.
Start With the Event Objective
The format you choose should be shaped by what the event needs to do. Informing a large group clearly and efficiently points toward a livestream. Corporate events built around brand storytelling, multiple content areas or product discovery suit an immersive environment, where you have greater design control over how the experience unfolds. When building connections between attendees is the primary goal, an avatar platform is better positioned to support that outcome.
For example, if your goal is to deliver a quarterly market update to 200 financial advisers across Australia, a virtual livestream can handle that efficiently. Attendees can join through a familiar link, follow the presentation in real time, and participate through chat without needing to learn a new event environment.
Consider the Audience Experience
Your attendees’ comfort with digital tools will influence how well any format performs. Livestreams place very few demands on attendees. Most participants are already familiar with the experience and can engage from the start without any prior guidance. Immersive environments and avatar platforms require more adjustment, and some attendees may need pre-event instructions or a short orientation before they feel confident navigating the space.
Think carefully about who your audience is. Senior stakeholders attending online briefings often expect a straightforward viewing experience, while delegates joining an interactive program may value networking and active participation. The format should make participation feel natural and align with attendees’ familiarity, ensuring a smooth and well-supported experience.
Match the Format to the Required Engagement Level
Not every corporate event needs the same depth of participation. A livestream suits content-led agendas where attendees watch, listen and submit questions. Immersive events work better when attendees need to move between sessions or interact with different event features at their own pace.
Avatar platforms are strongest when a real-time connection between attendees is the goal, whether through networking, collaboration or direct conversation. The format that matches what your event actually requires will always outperform one chosen for its sophistication.
- Livestream: Well-suited to internal briefings, regulatory updates and large-scale keynotes.
- Immersive event: Fits annual conferences and online expos that include sponsor touchpoints or exhibition zones across the program.
- Avatar platform: Works well for association events and team activities where building connections between specific participants is a defined outcome.
Think About Production Complexity and Support
Livestreams are the most straightforward of the three formats to produce. Platform setup, speaker briefings and technical checks are all manageable with a focused team and a clear run sheet. Immersive events and avatar platforms involve a considerably wider scope of preparation, covering environment design, attendee onboarding, platform configuration, rehearsals and live technical troubleshooting.
Your available timeline and budget carry real weight in this decision. While businesses tend to prioritise virtual event platforms, selecting a format that matches production capacity matters just as much as event goals when choosing a format.
Consider How the Event Will Be Measured Afterward
Every format generates data, but the type and depth of that data vary. Livestreams provide clear, accessible metrics: views, watch time, Q&A participation and drop-off points. These are easy to collect and simple to report on.
Immersive events and avatar platforms go further, capturing attendee movement through spaces, time spent in different areas, content interactions and connections made between participants.
What you want to measure should inform your format choice from the outset. If tracking which product content areas get the most attention during a launch event matters to you, an immersive platform gives you that data directly. A well-chosen format not only performs well on the day, but it also gives you the insight to assess what worked, what did not and how to plan more effectively next time.
Read More: Key Performance Indicators Not to Be Missed in Your Event Planning
Peanut Productions in Action: Virtual Event Formats Delivered
Understanding the differences between formats is the foundation. Choosing which one is right for your event comes down to a few practical considerations, and working through them before you select a platform will save both time and cost later.
7-Eleven Extraordinary Spirit Awards
We delivered a virtual awards event using live studio broadcast and an immersive event platform. Senior leaders presented from a central studio, while live award moments were streamed from different locations.
Baby Bunting Virtual Business Update & Awards
We created an immersive online awards environment with live production, virtual tables, networking features and live voting. This gave attendees more ways to participate beyond watching a standard livestream.
Cabrini Donor Lunch
We designed a virtual restaurant-style experience with hosted online tables and live speeches. The format helped recreate the connection of an in-person donor lunch in a virtual setting.
Can You Combine More Than One Virtual Event Format?
Yes, you can use more than one format within the same event, and for many programs, doing so makes the agenda more purposeful. A keynote may suit a livestream, while a product showcase often works better in an immersive environment, and a networking session calls for an avatar platform.
Combining all three gives each part of your program the experience it actually needs, rather than fitting everything into a single format that excels in some areas but is less suited to others.
To make a multi-format event feel seamless, keep these practical considerations in mind:
- Follow the agenda, not the platform: Format decisions should be driven by what each session needs to achieve, not by the capabilities of a single tool.
- Plan transitions deliberately: How attendees move between formats is part of the experience and should be mapped out and tested before the event.
- Brief attendees in advance: A short pre-event guide covering what platforms will be used and how to navigate them removes confusion before it arises.
- Keep the overall experience simple: The more formats you combine, the more important clear signposting, consistent instructions and well-timed communications become.
Each of these three virtual event formats offers a distinct experience and serves different objectives. Livestreams suit clear, broadcast-style communication, immersive events suit branded and interactive experiences, and avatar platforms suit networking and attendee participation. Choosing based on purpose rather than platform sophistication is what makes a virtual event work, both on the day and in what you learn from it afterwards.
If you’re planning your next virtual event and want a format that actually delivers on your goals, explore Peanut Productions. We are a professional event management agency that helps businesses across Australia design and deliver virtual events built around clear outcomes. Talk to our team to get started.
FAQs
Do attendees need to download special software for immersive events or avatar platforms?
Not always. Some immersive events and avatar platforms are browser-based, while others may need an app or specific system access. This depends on the platform, so attendees should receive clear joining instructions before the event.
How can I keep online audiences engaged during a virtual event?
You can use live Q&A, polls, chat, breakout sessions, interactive content and a clear event flow. Strong audience engagement in virtual events also depends on reliable technology and content designed for remote attention spans.
How should I budget for a virtual or hybrid event?
You should budget for the platform, production team, speaker support, branding, technical testing and live event management. Smart budgeting for a virtual or hybrid corporate event means investing in the elements that improve audience experience, not just choosing the lowest-cost platform.
What should I do if I am still unsure which virtual event format is right?
Speak with an experienced event partner before choosing a format. At Peanut Productions, we help plan and deliver virtual livestreams, immersive event solutions and avatar-based platforms, aligning the format with the event goal, audience and required experience.
