UPDATE: PlayStation VR will ship with 18 demos for North American and Asian audiences, but only eight in Europe. For more information, check out our news report on the upcoming demo disc launch.
There’s a lot of excitement surrounding the upcoming PlayStation VR, and for good reason: Sony’s virtual reality unit has always been considered an affordable alternative to the heavy prices associated with the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. The headset releases on October 13th and Sony plans to hit the ground running with a free PlayStation VR demo disc. Packaged with every PlayStation VR, the disc provides demos for eight of the hottest upcoming VR games.
The demo disc hosts a wide variety of genres, showcasing the various ways PlayStation VR users can make use of their upcoming virtual reality headset. From racing simulators to sports games, the demo shows off such titles as Driveclub VR, EVE: Valkyrie and the upcoming Battlezone reboot. Information remains limited as to the gameplay limits imposed by the demo, but more information may be coming soon: Sony’s press release comes alongside today’s upcoming PlayStation Meeting at 3 p.m. ET in New York City, which may feature more information about the upcoming PlayStation “Neo.”
With a recent Steam survey noting that virtual reality sales are on the decline with PC players, PlayStation VR may be the saving grace that the VR industry needs to boost interest. According to CGMagazine’s Liana Kerzner, it’s also one of the best headsets out there, too. During her hands-on time with the unit at E3 2016, she found the PlayStation VR fit comfortably on her head, showcased a strong selection of upcoming games and displayed images at a lower refresh rate: Preventing motion sickness during play. The price point is relatively affordable compared to the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, too, with Sony offering the PlayStation VR at a $550 starting price and a $700 bundle for move controllers, a PlayStation Camera, and a bonus launch title.
Compared to the four digit price tag associated with building a “VR Ready” computer, the PlayStation VR seems like an affordable alternative. PlayStation 4 users will know for certain when they can pick up their own headset on the 13th.