With the Galaxy S8 and S8+ coming later this month, Samsung is hoping to sweeten the deal with a free Gear VR headset and Controller for US and Canadian pre-orders before April 20th. And while there are plenty of free games on the Oculus app store, Samsung is also giving away a free Oculus content pack to get you started (US purchases only).
Samsung Galaxy S8 ($750) and Galaxy S8+ ($850) aren’t exactly cheap, but if you’re looking for an easy way to jump into VR and upgrade your phone, now may just be the time to act.
US carriers include AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile. The free Gear VR and Controller offer is also available for Canadian pre-orders (presumably unlocked devices), but the Oculus content bundle is for US customers only.
In addition, the US-based Samsung store is offering a pair of Harman AKG Y50BT black headphones ($149.95 value) and 256GB Samsung MicroSD EVO+ memory card ($146.48 value) for an additional $99 to go along with your free Gear VR headset/Controller and Oculus content bundle.
Free Gear VR with Galaxy S8 Pre-order
The Oculus content bundle includes End Space, Star Chart, Esper 2, Evil Robot Traffic Jam, and Ocean Rift—$50 in games for free.
The content bundle represents a good smattering of genres, from the heady Esper 2 (2016) puzzler to the fast-paced space battles of End Space (2016). While these are sure to keep you busy on your first few days, the store is matured a lot since it was first opened back in 2014, and is chocked full of great free games and experiences, so keep an eye on the top free section of the Oculus store. Oculus is boasting over 70 games on the store (with none of the ‘low-effort chaff’ you find on Google Play).
Social VR is also accessible using Gear VR, which can let you connect to the most of the VR headset-owning community thanks to cross-platform apps like Altspace VR and VTime—not to mention Oculus’s own Room app which is planned for cross-compatibility with the Oculus Rift in the near future.
Gear VR also lets you watch livestreaming 360 video like Next VR’s live sports coverage or special promotional 3D 360 videos like Ghost in the Shell VR Experience. Browse the web, watch Netflix in your private movie theater, go to museums—there’s so much to see and do on Gear VR.
For more VR apps, games and experiences, check out at the Oculus Store.