Virtual reality hardware and games rule the presentation floors of this year's Tokyo Game Show, which is one of the most prestigious and largest tech and gaming exhibitions in the world. For participants there is only one buzz word: virtual reality.
The organizers luckily gave selected reporters early access to the show's presentation floors on Thursday ahead of its opening this weekend. The reporters saw that 614 gaming and tech companies will showcase their wares and more than 1,500 video games will be available for participants to try and experience.
The director of Sony Interactive Entertainment, Yasuo Takahashi, is strongly convinced that year 2016 will set the stage for the global spread of virtual reality hardware and software.
As head of Sony's game division, he believes VR will trigger a new golden age of console video gaming and entertainment which have currently lagged due to the rise of casual mobile gaming
"Up to now games were played on a TV set. With VR, players can enter the worlds portrayed in games. It's a totally new experience," Takahashi said, as reported by Bloomberg.
Given the hardware demands of VR, the Sony chief admits that VR currently cannot be played using smartphones. He believes though that VR's true impact will come in the form of movies, TV dramas and virtual travel that can be viewed using the headset device.
Bloomberg opines that Sony is betting the future of the company on VR. Next month Sony will officially sell the PlayStation VR headgear device for $400, which many may consider a hefty price if only used for games.
Atsushi Morita, Sony's Japan and Asia president for computer entertainment, said that Sony's VR device won't be limited to Playstation games, according to a CNBC report. Users can also use the device to watch live-theater performances, tours of historical sites and music videos.
Sony believes that it has an edge over its rival since it will be the first to market a fully functioning VR headset for regular people and costs lower than its competitors: Oculus Rift is priced at $600, while HTC Vive is $800.
Speaking with CNBC, Patrick Moorhead, president and principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, said, "Sony will be the first company to popularize VR."
