We’re just a few weeks out from the consumer arrival of two major VR systems, the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. The biggest problem with VR however, is that in order to understand it’s potential, you need to try it for yourself. Now, UK retailer Currys is the first in the UK to offer its customers high-end, in-store virtual reality demo with the HTC Vive.
As of yesterday, one of the UK’s largest electrical goods store, took a pioneering step into spreading the potential of consumer virtual reality. Currys has begun an initiative in 5 of its stores across the UK giving shoppers the chance to go hands-on with the Valve engineered, HTC designed and manufactured Vive VR system. It is however important to note that the Vive will not go on sale officially until later in the year, however Currys will be taking pre-orders for the systems.
According to Arstechnica, the stores will feature a full Vive demonstration area for individual sessions, but any one attending need to expect queues as you won’t be able to pre-book a session. No word yet on what customers will get to see in these demo’s, but it’s likely to a similar selection used by HTC and Vive throughout their tour of industry shows and public spaces over the last 12 months.
Although the new VR demos are only in 5 UK stores, it does give the bricks and mortar retail lead to HTC and Valve, at least in the UK. We reported recently that US retailers won’t see consumer Oculus Rift units until next month, although pre-order owners and Kickstarter backers should start to receive their units from March 28th. The HTC Vive doesn’t officially begin to ship until April 5th.
