Nintendo: Virtual reality is not ready for the mass market

Virtual reality is a hot topic nowadays. Leading game developers are already working on titles that will utilise VR headsets from Oculus VR and Sony, which are expected to hit the market in 2015. Unlike many other players in the industry, Nintendo does not believe in VR games. According to the company, the VR technology is not ready for the mass market now.

“For us, it's all about fun gameplay,” said Reggie Fils-Aime, president and chief operating officer of Nintendo of America, reports Associated Press. “That's what we want. We want a fun, compelling experience. Right now, the technology isn't quite there yet, in our view. Certainly, it's something we're looking at. We look at a wide range of technologies. When it's there and enables a fun experience, we'll be there, too.”

Keeping in mind that performance of Nintendo’s latest Wii U game console is significantly lower compared to that of Sony’s PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s Xbox One, it is unlikely that the system will ever support virtual reality headsets. Hence, it is not really surprising that a Nintendo executive does not endorse the VR in general.

It is noteworthy that Nintendo already released a virtual reality gaming device back in 1995. The Virtual Boy product was a commercial failure and was discontinued already in 1996.

Unlike the president of Nintendo of America, Patrick Soderlund, executive vice president at EA Studios, is a strong supporter of virtual reality gaming. He believes that with the Oculus Rift and the Morpheus devices the VR technology will finally take off.

“We're deep into VR,” he noted. “All you have to do is to put the Oculus or Morpheus headset onto your head and realize that VR is now finally at the point where it's going to be viable. We can now do the things – and more – from ‘The Lawnmower Man,' which came out 20 years ago. It has to work. I can't imagine it not working.”

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KitGuru Says: It is likely that Nintendo will have to support virtual reality technologies with its next generation game console simply to stay competitive. What is unclear is when the company plans to launch its new system…

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