HTC Wants to Reinvent the Arcade with the Vive

While virtual reality has exploded in 2016, the expense and required floor space is prohibitive for many, especially for the premier consumer VR headset, the HTC Vive. New plans unveiled by HTC, though, aim to bring its VR technology to the masses, though an increasingly outdated medium: the arcade.

The home console gaming boom effectively killed the traditional games arcade – which is now a niche arena holding memories of childhoods long gone – but HTC sees it as the perfect sphere in which to allow gamers to enjoy its Vive technology without shelling out £799. HTC has announced that it aims to launch thousands of Viveport Arcade locations across the globe by the end of 2017.

“Viveport Arcade will represent a more than $100 million market opportunity for VR developers in the next two years,” Rikard Steiber, President of Viveport and SVP of Virtual Reality at HTC, said. “From the largest amusement centers to arcade installations at family entertainment locations, virtual reality is clearly becoming the next big draw for entertainment. We believe this will be a cornerstone in democratizing access to high-end virtual reality and turning curious consumers into longtime fans.”

HTC is bringing two new games to Viveport Arcade: Phosphor Games’ zombie survival horror The Brookhaven Experiment and Sólfar Studios’ Everest VR mountain simulation.

“Arcade distribution is going to prove very important for VR and we’re thrilled to be partnered with HTC to lead the charge on Viveport Arcade,” Justin Corcoran, CEO of Phosphor Games Studio, said. “As developers, getting our content in the right consumer-friendly locations gives us the chance to reach bigger and broader audiences globally, empowering us to continue creating great VR experiences.”

“The Viveport Arcade program allows our team to focus on being creative and innovating on great experiences for consumers,” Kjartan Pierre Emilsson, co-founder and CEO Sólfar Studios, added. “It is great to have a trusted partner in HTC who can manage secure distribution of our content into entertainment centers around the world.”

Viveport Arcade should be a viable alternative for gamers who want to try out the HTC Vive without breaking the bank.