Gaming

Sony PlayStation VR gets global release

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Virtual reality platforms have the potential to be the future of entertainment, so it’s only natural that so many companies, like Samsung, HTC, and Facebook-owned Oculus, are getting in on the action with their own VR gear that were made available earlier this year. Sony, one of the most reputable names in the entertainment industry, is also trying to burst onto the scene.

And despite a late start, its PlayStation VR platform arguably has the best chance at winning over consumers who are willing to pay a premium for a high-end experience. And it’s all thanks to one feature: Sony’s headset will be powered (though not exclusively) by the PlayStation 4, the company’s fastest-selling gaming console, which has sold over 40 millions units since its launch in late 2013.

That’s a huge differentiator for Sony, as the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive — the PlayStation VR’s biggest rivals — both require a top-specced PC to operate. PSVR ships with a headset, plus a box that connects to the PS4 and provides additional processing muscle.

playstation vr move controller

The headset itself is pretty impressive in terms of specs; it boasts a 5.7-inch, full-resolution OLED display and supports up to 120 frames per second, which is ideal for VR. The kit won’t turn any PS4 game into a VR game, but it will have 60 different VR titles on offer at launch, among them a new Resident Evil game and Batman Arkham VR. It can also stream existing PS4 games and video content directly to the headset for a widescreen cinematic experience.

The PlayStation VR is slated for release in Australia, the U.S., the U.K., and Asia on October 13. In Sony’s home turf of Asia, the headset will launch in Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines.

playstation vr standard package

Standard PlayStation VR package

Sony’s PSVR will retail for AU$550 in Australia, $399 in the U.S., €399 in Europe, and £349 in the U.K. In Japan, it will run you 44,980 yen, while in Singapore the price of admission is 599 Singapore dollars. It will be priced at P22,900 in the Philippines, we’re told. It bears noting the standard package doesn’t include the PlayStation Move controller and the PlayStation Camera that’s necessary to have the proper VR experience.

[irp posts=”1749″ name=”Microsoft HoloLens VR headset starts shipping today”]

Gaming

Horizon Hunters Gathering is an upcoming co-op roguelite spinoff

If you liked Nightreign, you might like this.

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Like Valve, the PlayStation’s tentpole franchises are allergic to the number 3. The Last of Us, the ongoing God of War arc, Spider-Man, and Horizon all don’t have a third game yet. These franchises, however, have all gotten rumors of spinoffs. Now, Horizon is getting more than just a rumor; an official co-op spinoff is happening. Say hello to Horizon Hunters Gathering!

Today, Guerilla unveiled Horizon Hunters Gathering, an official co-op roguelite set in the Horizon universe. The game will feature multiple players working to take down difficult enemies, bosses, and dungeons.

The title shares similarities with Elden Ring Nightreign. For one, players can choose between six characters with different roles. The main mode, called Machine Incursion, takes players to a wide map with powerups and roaming monsters. The map then has a shrinking ring that… well, you know what a shrinking ring does.

Horizon Hunters Gathering also has a different game mode called Cauldron Descent. Compared to the Nightreign type of gameplay, Cauldron Descent is a more traditional roguelite mode. Players enter a dangerous dungeon and choose alternate paths that vary in challenges.

Both game modes will be available through an upcoming closed playtest through the PlayStation Beta Program.

Because this is from Guerilla themselves, this is an official game. But it’s far from the only spinoff for the universe. Previously, NCSoft, a South Korean gaming studio, announced Horizon Steel Frontiers, an MMO set in the Horizon universe. Like Horizon Hunters Gathering, Steel Frontiers has an unknown launch date.

SEE ALSO: Horizon Steel Frontiers is an MMO set in the Horizon universe

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Gaming

Valve is delaying the launch of the Steam Machine

But it’s still scheduled for the first half of 2026.

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Overshadowed only by the Nintendo Switch 2, the upcoming Steam Machine was one of the most exciting gaming devices announced last year. Unfortunately, especially if you were waiting intently for the console’s launch, Valve is delaying the device by an undisclosed amount of time.

Initially, Valve anticipated a launch for the Steam Machine sometime in the first half of 2026. However, as the calendar rolls on into the second month of the year, the company has yet to announce either a price or a launch date for the console. Valve says that both should be out by now.

In a recent update, the company confirms that ongoing chip shortages have forced a reevaluation of the Steam Machine’s price and shipping date. This also goes for the Steam Controller and the Steam Frame. Valve is going back to the drawing board to figure out what is feasible for the console market.

On the bright side, Valve is still aiming to launch all three devices in the first half of the year. It’s just a matter of determining when that is.

The Steam Machine is just the latest in a growing line of devices affected by the chip shortage. Today, chipmakers are funneling their supplies to the supposed demand for AI servers. Naturally, more infrastructure means less chips reserved for regular consumers.

Also recently, NVIDIA was rumored to skip this year for a new GPU launch because of the AI “boom”. It’s the first time that this has happened in thirty years.

SEE ALSO: Valve announces its own console called the Steam Machine

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No new NVIDIA GPUs this year, report says

Once again, it’s because of AI.

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Yesterday, AMD made the bold claim that the next-generation Xbox is coming next year. In a world drowning in manufactured hype for AI, hearing about GPUs going back to gaming is refreshing. NVIDIA, however, still has its pipelines clogged with artificial intelligence. According to reports, the company will not release new graphics cards this year.

This is unprecedented. A new graphics card is often a highlight for gamers every year. Even in recent times when prices beggar belief, a newly launched chip still generates hype.

Now, for the first time in thirty years, NVIDIA will not launch a new card in a calendar year (via The Information). Like a lot of things happening this year, AI is the culprit.

Buoyed by the dreams of billionaires, GPU companies are busy dedicating their stock of chips for AI servers. Because these servers artificially blew up the demand for GPUs, everything else that needs such a chip is projected to see a price hike this year. This includes smartphones, gaming consoles, and cars. Regular consumers have been left to deal with the aftermath of the imaginary AI boom.

According to The Information, NVIDIA’s current lineup is only partially composed of chips meant for gaming. Only around 8 percent of its revenue came from that segment in the first nine months of last year. In its defense, AI chips are much more profitable right now, but it’s still a big blow against consumers who just want to play games.

SEE ALSO: NVIDIA is the world’s first $4 trillion company

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