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Sony Announces PlayStation VR Singapore Release Date

Apologies to PC gamers, but if you want a dose of reality when it comes VR games, Sony’s PlayStation 4 is the one that truly delivers.

Taking centre stage at Hong Kong’s Ani-Com, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced that the much awaited PlayStation VR (PS VR) will be receiving the same worldwide release date on 13 October 2016 for Asia, including Singapore, Hong Kong, China, South Korea and Taiwan.

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Yes, the competing Oculus Rift and HTC Vive have gone on sale, but not across Asia so the PS VR marks the first for the region when it comes to playing video games.

The final sticker price for the latest PlayStation toy would be S$599 for just the PS VR headset. If you had missed the initial PS Move hype back in the PS3 days, you can also grab the PS VR headset, together with the PlayStation Camera, as a bundle for S$649.

All prices are SRP so there might be some leeway when you get it via other channels. This also makes the PS VR more expensive than buying the console, but we already knew that, since Sony previously announced the US$399 PS VR price at E3.

The simultaneous launch date is a big thing, considering that the world has gotten considerably smaller. And PlayStation has been really awesome keeping up with the hype train. After all, the PS4 was launched in Singapore just a few weeks after the US.

The only thing missing right now are the PlayStation Move controllers, which you would definitely need, along with a PS4 system. While we have seen PS VR launch packs that includes everything (PS VR, Move Controllers and camera) to get you started, we’ve yet to see one for this side of the globe. Let’s hope it’s an oversight, because how else can you best enjoy PS VR?

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Game, games, games!

I remember during the early days of the PlayStation Move, which saw lines form outside the now-defunct video game store where I first worked. Many fans came in clamouring for Sony’s latest and greatest, but aside from Sports Champions and EyePet, there just weren’t enough games to satisfy the hardcore console gamers.

Luckily, Sony has learned its lesson and history will not be repeating itself since there are 62 PS VR supported games slated for release. Special mention has to go out to Stifled by Gattai Games which sees a Singaporean developer releasing what we think is the freshest take on the horror game genre.

A quick scroll through the remaining list reveals a mix of titles that looks to contain both full fledged and indie game titles. While it might be too early to tell how much gameplay each title provides, it should be a good enough library to work through, as we anticipate the first must play VR title for the PlayStation 4.

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The Clincher

If the specialized VR games are not sufficient to whet your appetite, all gamers should be looking forward to regular gaming in cinematic mode for all PlayStation titles.

Simulating a 5 metre space within the headset itself, this immersive VR environment will be a boon to gamers who struggle to fit a huge television screen within their home. With this mode, we’re pretty sure it would also help free up the family television, so you can game with your buddies in the comfort in your bedroom. (We’re not sure what you want to do with the PS VR in the comfort of your own room, but we would rather not find out.)

Compared to the other VR experiences found on the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, PS VR appears to be the most well thought of in terms of features. Most importantly, the device is actually available in the Singaporean and Asian market because what good is a VR device if it cannot be purchased locally?

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PlayStation is simply flexing its muscles and has done well in understanding their core audience. It would come as no surprise if the PS VR might spark another wave of PS4 purchases in the months to come.

We’re sorry PC folks, but the reality is, the first VR round goes to PlayStation 4, with the PC Master Race being left behind. Cry us a river.

PlayStation VR should be available at all your favourite video game retailers from now. PS VR releases on 13 October 2016 and will probably be the hottest toy to own come Christmas.

If you’re still on the fence, PlayStation will be giving everyone a chance to check out the device at 313 Somerset Sony Store from 30 July onwards.

As a reference, PS VR is available in other countries for $399 in the US, €399 in Europe, £349 in the UK, and 44,980 yen in Japan.

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PlayStation VR Games List

  • 100ft Robot Golf
  • Ace Banana
  • Allumette
  • Arizona Sunshine
  • BATMAN: ARKHAM VR
  • Battlezone
  • BOUND: Shattered Kingdom
  • Classroom Aquatic
  • Cyber Danganronpa VR The Class Trial
  • DYING Reborn
  • Eagle Flight
  • Esper
  • Farpoint
  • Filthy Lucre
  • FINAL FANTASY XV
  • Gary the Gull
  • GNOG
  • Gunjack
  • HARMONIX MUSIC VR
  • Hatsune Miku – Project DIVA-X HD
  • Hatsune Miku VR: Future Live
  • Headmaster
  • Here They Lie
  • I Expect You to Die
  • Invasion!
  • Job Simulator
  • KILL X VR
  • Kismet
  • Littlstar VR Cinema
  • Megaton Rainfall
  • Mixip
  • Mortal Blitz VR
  • O! My Genesis VR
  • Phantom World VR
  • Pixel Gear
  • PlayStation VR Worlds
  • Psychonauts: In The Rhombus of Ruin
  • Race The Sun
  • Radial-G : Racing Revolved
  • Resident Evil 7
  • Rez Infinite
  • RIGS Mechanized Combat League
  • Star Chart
  • Statik
  • Stifled
  • SUPERHYPERCUBE
  • Symphony of the Machine
  • Tethered
  • The Assembly
  • The Music Room
  • The Occasional Encounter
  • THE PLAYROOM VR
  • The School – Swan Song –
  • Tumble VR
  • Unearthing Mars
  • Until Dawn: Rush of Blood
  • Vrideo
  • Wayward Sky
  • Weeping Doll
  • Within
  • World of Diving
  • World War Toons

PlayStation VR Specifications

Product code CUH-ZVR1 series
External dimensions VR headset: Approx. 187×185×277 mm (width × height × length, excludes largest projection, headband at the shortest)
Processor unit: Approx. 143×36×143 mm (width × height × length, excludes largest projection)
Mass VR headset: Approx. 610g (excluding cable)
Processor unit: Approx. 365g
Display Method OLED
Panel Size 5.7 inches
Panel Resolution 1920×RGB×1080 (960×RGB×1080 per eye)
Refresh rate 120Hz,  90Hz
Field of View Approximately 100 degrees
Sensors Six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer)
Connection interface VR headset: HDMI, AUX, Stereo Headphone Jack
Processor unit: HDMI TV, HDMI PS4, USB, HDMI, AUX
Processor Unit Function 3D audio processing, Social Screen (mirroring mode, separate mode), Cinematic mode

*Specifications and designs are those of the prototype and are subject to change.