Sony have released example artwork for PlayStation VR launch titles that gives us a look at how the company intends to let consumers know they’ll need $399 worth of additional hardware before they buy the games.
Sony’s PlayStation VR is coming on October 13, and it will probably be the biggest push virtual reality technology has had into traditional bricks and mortar retail outlets. That means of course boxes on shelves that customers pick up, pay for and take home (I know, quaint huh?).
But when you have PS4 titles vying for attention on store shelves, and some of them require (relatively) expensive additional hardware in order for them to work, as a retailer you want to be sure the customer is clued in as early as possible. As such, retail packaging design for PSVR titles is pretty key and Sony have likely spent a lot of time working out how best to communicate this to consumers.
Well, here’s the result. Sony have chosen to highlight the PlayStation VR headset requirement (or ‘Compatible’) banner across the top of the box (which to my eyes is pretty clear) but with an additionally succinct tag bottom right simply stating “You’ll Need These”, underneath a shot of the headset and PlayStation camera. Interestingly however, the PS Move controllers do not make an appearance in any of these shots. This is expected for Rigs, a Dual Shock joypad-controlled title, but both VR Worlds and Hustle Kings use the PS Move controllers at least in part, which could mean the packaging may not send all the right messages here.
At GDC 2016 earlier this year, Sony announced that PSVR would cost $399 as the ‘Core Headset’ package which doesn’t include the PlayStation VR camera of PlayStation Move controllers. The company has since offered a ‘Launch Bundle’ which does include the aforementioned for $499. Online retailers like Amazon and Best Buy have been taking spurious pre-orders based on stock, but at the time of writing both outlets are listed as sold out of the of headset.
The PlayStation VR launches on October 13 and Sony is promising over 50 PSVR compatible titles to be available in the launch window.