Sony Announces the Global Launch of their PlayStation VR for $399 in October 2016

By Ken Brown

Sony to Show Innovative Gaming with Abzu and Morepheus at E3 2015

2016 is lining up to be the year that flood of Virtual Reality games and peripheral comes to a home near you. Shortly after Oculus announced their launch date with a long-list of VR game titles, Sony announced the global launch of their $399 PlayStation VR.

Along with more than 200 developers and publishers, Sony is coordinating efforts consolidating some of the biggest names in gaming as well as some of the most creative independent publishers to present new VR software titles for their PlayStation VR. Sony reports to have more than 160 VR titles in the work with 50 of these expected to launch by the end of the year.

These titles arent just your boring and ho-hum VR demo, either. No, some of the more anticipated VR titles include EAs Star Wars Battlefront, Ubisofts Eagle Flight, and SCEs TIGS: Mechanized Combat League and many more. Sony is also making the strategic move to partner with Tools & Middleware companies which will provide a steady stream of innovation to enhance and ease the title development environment for the PS VR.

This is great news to hear, but time will tell how big Sonys impact will be on VR gaming. With over 36 million people who have access to a PlayStation, Sonys gamble on VR looks to be a very good bet!

Read Sony’s entire Press Release below:

Sony E3 2015

PlayStation VR Launches October 2016 Available Globally at 44,980 Yen, $399 USD

More than 230 Developers and Publishers on Board And Over 160 Diverse Titles in Development for PS VR

Tokyo, March 16, 2016 Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today announced that PlayStationVR (PS VR), a virtual reality system that takes the PlayStation4 (PS4) system to the next level of immersion, will launch from October 2016 in Japan, North America, Europe and Asia, at manufacturer’s suggested retail price of 44,980 yen, $399 USD, 399 and 349*1.

Ever since we unveiled PS VR during the 2014 Game Developers Conference, weve received a tremendous response from gamers and developers alike, said Andrew House, President and Global CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. To make sure that we are able to prepare and deliver enough units of PS VR and a wide variety of software titles to consumers worldwide, we have decided to launch PS VR in October 2016. For those who are looking forward to its launch, we would like to thank everyone for their patience and continued support. We are beyond excited to deliver to consumers the amazing experience that PS VR offers.

Currently more than 230 developers and publishers*2 are working on PS VR software titles, from smaller independent teams to larger studios at the industrys top publishers such as 2K Games and Ubisoft. Software titles in development for PS VR from these developers and publishers as well as from SCE Worldwide Studios (SCE WWS) are now totaling to more than 160 titles*3, and over 50 of those titles including Eagle Flight (Ubisoft), EVE: Valkyrie (CCP Games), Headmaster (Frame Interactive), Rez Infinite (Enhance Games), Wayward Sky (Uber Entertainment), RIGS: Mechanized Combat League, Tumble VR, Until Dawn: Rush of Blood andPlayStationVR WORLDS (SCE WWS) are expected to launch by the end of this year. Additionally, Electronic Arts Inc., DICE and Lucasfilm are working on an all-new Star Wars Battlefront (Electronic Arts Inc.) gaming experience only for PS VR. Furthermore,THE PLAYROOM VR*4 by SCE WWS will be available as a free download from PlayStationStore to all PS VR owners, simultaneously with the launch of the system.

To further drive the expansion of the PS VR software line-up, SCE is partnering with Tools & Middleware companies*5 to provide innovative technology solutions and enhance the title development environment for PS VR.

The system also has a Cinematic mode, which lets users enjoy a variety of content in a large virtual screen*6 while wearing the headset. Supported content for the Cinematic mode includes standard PS4 games and videos as well as variety of PS4 features including Share Play and Live from PlayStation. Users will also be able to enjoy 360 degrees photos and videos that are captured by devices such as omnidirectional cameras on PS VR via PS4 Media Player, which will let them feel as if they are physically inside the captured scene.

SCE will continue to vigorously promote PS VR towards its release in October 2016 by showcasing PS VR titles at events around the globe, while also broadening its title portfolio.

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