GameStop Offers HTC Vive and Oculus Rift Virtual Reality Demos in Stores

GameStop Virtual Reality Offers HTC Vive and Oculus Rift

Thanks to souped-up goggles like HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, virtual reality is all the rage. But these devices take time to come by.

But Gamestop is doing something about it. The retailer plans to get VR headsets into stores for you to try, even before they hit the market this fall.

In-store VR demos

While VR may be all the rage among gamers, selling headsets is difficult unless consumers can experience them themselves. This is why GameStop has teamed up with HTC to offer a virtual reality demo in its stores. The company hopes the move will attract new customers and help its existing ones see the potential of the technology.

The retailer plans to launch a HTC Vive demonstration station in all its more prominent locations. It will also add stations for Sony’s PlayStation VR, which will launch in October. The company wants to show that VR will be an essential part of the gaming experience and entice people to buy it when it becomes available.

There are 10 GameStop locations with HTC Vive demo stations; the rest of the stores will get them this month. The headsets will be tethered to Alienware Area-51 desktop PCs, running a 10-minute demo loop featuring games like Blu, Space Pirate Trainer, and Job Simulator. A list of store locations is expected to be released on the HTC Vive website soon.

PlayStation VR is a big focus for GameStop this year, and the retailer will try to get as many people as possible to try it out in stores. It targets PS4 connoisseurs and gamers who wait in line for hours to be one of the first to get a new console and will use consumer influencers to promote the headset. In addition to the retail partnerships, PlayStation VR will be announced in a new TV campaign and will come with a free pack-in game called PlayStation VR Worlds.

GameStop CEO Paul Raines says the VR market is still in its early days, but he’s optimistic it can be a significant business. He said that the VR experiences offered by Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR are all “awesome” and that GameStop looks forward to working with each company to bring them into its stores. The retailer will also be promoting virtual reality through its in-game ads, as well as its online video channel.

Augmented Reality (AR)

Augmented reality (AR) is a real-world experience that blends digital elements with the user’s view of their surroundings. It is a mixed reality type that superimposes virtual objects over the physical world using sensors like cameras, accelerometers, gyroscopes, GPS, and more. This allows users to interact with the AR experience in ways that would be impossible or impractical in a traditional physical environment. This technology has a variety of applications in retail, gaming, and design, as well as in medicine and education. It has even been used to treat excruciating phantom limb pain in amputees by projecting a digital image of the missing limb onto the patient’s body, tricking them into thinking it is still there.

GameStop’s recent augmented reality initiative focuses on bringing video games to life in-store with help from the cloud platform Microsoft Azure. The retailer has incorporated the technology into its Power Rewards loyalty program app, and customers can now hold up their phones to see augmented reality images or videos in stores. The company hopes the new technology will help reduce “showrooming,” where shoppers buy products in stores but then purchase them online at lower prices.

The company’s AR technology recognizes each customer’s device using the Power Rewards app. The app then sends personalized customer recommendations based on their interests and location. It also offers a “game cart” feature that lets users add items to their mobile shopping list to quickly checkout in the store. The technology has already increased sales of digital downloads and other products and will continue to be rolled out in more stores.

In addition to boosting digital download sales, augmented reality can help attract gamers who have yet to visit GameStop stores. It can also drive in-store traffic and encourage new customers to try the latest consoles. This technology could also host midnight launch events, where game characters talk to fans and interact with them as they line up to receive their copies of the latest Call of Duty or Assassin’s Creed.

4K TV displays

GameStop sees used video game sales as their primary revenue driver and wants to keep those customers returning, so it is stepping up its efforts to offer new games. At its annual GameStop Expo last month, the retailer introduced several new initiatives that it hopes will capture the attention of gamers and help lure them into stores.

One demo used Augmented Reality (AR) to bring virtual video game characters to life in-store. Players can view the characters through the display and interact with them using smartphones.

The company also tests 4K TV displays in-store to showcase game trailers. Customers can call up the content quickly for a customized experience. The test is part of the GameStop Technology Institute, a new initiative to accelerate innovation at its retail locations.

In the Fox Business’ Mornings With Maria segment yesterday, GameStop CEO Paul Raines said the retailer is in talks with Oculus VR and HTC about selling their headsets at stores. He also confirmed that the chain will sell Sony’s PlayStation VR headset this fall.

Power Rewards

GameStop is a brick-and-mortar game retailer with its hands in many “channels”, from PC gaming download portals to games media, in the form of the magazine Game Informer. The company does well when there is new hardware to sell, but it also knows that digital sales are a growing part of the industry, so it has been expanding its presence in that area as well.

In addition to offering its own VR headsets in stores, GameStop has partnered with Sony to launch an online store for PlayStation virtual reality headsets. The new store offers a range of different PSVR headsets to choose from, allowing users to try out the latest technology before making a purchase decision. The store also offers a selection of accessories, including controllers and memory cards, to go with the headsets.

Gamers considering purchasing a VR headset can take advantage of the free demos offered in the store. They can also sign up for a Power Rewards program, which offers various benefits to members who shop with the chain. The rewards program is a good way to earn cash back on purchases and receive exclusive gaming merchandise and other gifts. The Power Rewards program has over 43 million active members worldwide.

GameStop’s focus on the digital market is a key strategy as it seeks to reverse years of losses and compete with newer, more nimble competitors. The company has partnered with predictive technology providers such as Certona and is looking to offer personalized recommendations to its customers online and in its retail locations.

Raines believes that GameStop will continue to benefit from pre-owned sales, which account for about a quarter of its earnings. He expects a 5% increase in used game sales in constant currency this year. He also embraces the growth of cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens, which are unique digital assets.

The company is also experimenting with VR games with huge file sizes, and it could even offer virtual reality rental services for its stores. While these initiatives may not make GameStop a profitable business in the long run, they are a good way to diversify its offerings and keep its base of loyal customers.