Sony Is Letting People Try PlayStation VR at Home for Free for a Limited Time

"Have you found yourself interested in PlayStation VR but just unsure if you really want to jump in yet? Well Sony may let you try PlayStation VR for free in the comfort of your own home."

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Nice idea Sony

[Cupid_Viper_3]

Yeah, I think this is probably a cheaper and very effective way to get more people to experience what VR is like. This way, you have up to two weeks with the product in your home, with a full game and a bunch of demos to try out. This provides a much deeper experience than you can get at a demo station at a Best Buy or GameStop. Also, they're doing this around the holiday season when families usually get together. So meaning that you can share this with them and create potential new VR consumers. And after all is said and done, if you don't like it, you return it. If you do then you keep it.

[strifeblade]

lol, sounds like a very standard return policy

[rainslacker]

And i tbd you've been getting the gr8 titles from plus the past few months you have about 6 games to play right off the bat.

[SameOldx2]

No. Best Buy already has a return policy. Only good for countries who don't have return policies like Best Buy.

[nowitzki2004]

Thats confidence

[Matpan]

I don´t know how it works in USA... but here in Germany (and most Europe I´d guess) anything you buy at a store / order online / contract with any service company you sign, you have 14 days to return / withdraw, money back, no questions asked. I mean, the product must be in as close as new condition as possible, of course. But that´s just common sense. So... I could buy an Oculus Rift... a Vive, a PSVR, a PS4PRO... use them for 14 days and return them. As far as I understand this is just Sony marketing a policy that is already standing in most places for ages now...

[rainslacker]

In the US it varies by store, but most stores have a week or two for electronics. Gaming hardware itself is generally 1-2 weeks, and typically is only for defective products, and only good for replacement, so not really a return. Some stores do allow it though, because some bigger stores can eat the loss and don't want to upset a customer, but it's not the norm. Gaming software itself usually isn't returnable unless defective. I'm not sure if some stores will allow it but don't advertise it in an effort to not upset customers, but I know GameStop and WalMart don't take returns on open software.

Anyhow, I'm sure it's just a marketing thing for Sony. Don't see any problem with it, as in the US, doing returns isn't always a possibility...particularly since the one they're offering has software included with it.

[darthv72]

Interesting approach. It says you have to be a select PS+ member and have a credit card for them to put a hold on to cover the cost if you decide to keep it.

[Summons75]

Cool idea but it's extremely limited and offers are already closed for the time being.

[windblowsagain]

VR will only become massive when it's cheaper and every title supports it etc. like 50 years,lol.

I think 3D was kicked to the curb much too soon.

4k 3d high quality visuals would have been much better then VR

[GNCFLYER]

I agreed with the middle comment. But VR will be mainstream quicker than 50 years. VCR or microwave ovens weren't a thing 50 years ago.

I had 3d, it was OK but not immersive. VR your in the world, big difference

[Gwiz]

Yup,this takes it to another level.

[captainexplosion]

I love my 3D tv so much. I wish the tech would have taken off.

[Gwiz]

Yes,3D died off too quickly,I still have a 3DTV but never use it as such (Tombraider 2013 on PC is a must try)

[PistolsAtDawn]

Itll become successful when you can seamlessly play games like Halo, COD, Skyrim in good quality without it feeling like a tech demo gimmick.

[yeahokwhatever]

You can have a 3D IMAX screen with your VR. Your argument is invalid.

[bluefox755]

This is a very clever idea. I've always thought the biggest challenge to VR would be marketing it, because how do you show it to people without letting them actually try it? VR is one of those things you kind of have to try to really get.

[captainexplosion]

Well it takes about 10 days to set up.

[Goldby]

Are you also one of those people that answer the tech support question about what kind of computer do u have with a black or white one?

Took me about 10 minutes to set mine up and I didn't even look at the instructions

[captainexplosion]

For what its worth, I spent probably 12-15 hours just trying to set up the camera orientation but wasn't able to because the camera would never properly track the lights during it. I like my headset somewhat, but it is so hard to use and having to unhook for HDR that when I got my Pro back from being serviced I haven't hooked my headset up and probably never will. Just too much work.

[G20WLY]

^You could just buy a cheap switch to fix that. Or get the updated headset which incorporates HDR pass through built-in.

Or just moan lol

[Zeke68]

10 days for this ??!!! May I ask how many MONTHS !! you need to turn on your game console ??!!!
https://sagamer.co.za/2016/...

[yeahokwhatever]

Start by plugging in the wires to the only places they fit. Finish by playing some games. There's nothing hard about this.

[sprinterboy]

@captainexplosion
First time setup reading instructions about 15mins, once psvr is setup under your TV as a example it takes a mere 1 to 2 mins to switch a couple of cables over. I feel sorry for people like you, plus people like you is the exact reason what's wrong with the world .
Edit: 12/15hrs setting camera up lol, did you not think after about 20mins you might have a dodgy camera psml.

[T2X]

I hate to say this, but if you really had a tough time setting this thing up, than you probably should return it and save your money! What was it that confused you so? Was it the plugging in the USB or plugging in the VR cables marked X and O to the other receptacle marked triangle square? LOL. Yup, very difficult.

[captainexplosion]

Cool, bunch of people justifying this. There was no excuse for sony to include such a poor camera and move controllers, for the tracking to be so bad, and for no HDR pass-though. PSVR made moving everything out of my living to play Kinect sound easy.

[PlayableGamez-]

This is actually a cool idea.
And probably a good way of selling it.
The only thing is, couldn't you just go to Best Buy buy one and return if you decided you don't want one and get your money back 100 percent?

[Master of Unlocking]

Yeah well, it's nothing that should get them a big round of applause either. Heaven only know why it took them that long to come up with that idea. And apparently it's still going to be an elitist advertising campaign, with only "select PS+ users" chosen to get the privilege to try out that gizmo of theirs before they have the chance to fork out the money, all of it apparently, no coupon or w/e, to buy it.

You know there's something wrong with society when people have to go out of their way to buy a product. The company that put that product on the market should be the one running after you to get your money, not the other way around. If Sony are eager to sell more PSVR, or just plain PS systems, they should make sure there's not one , say, shopping mall in the US, for example, that doesn't have at least a good dozen booths for people to try it out.

You should never buy a product from a company that hasn't let you know they want you as a customer, much less from a company that has never done anything to that effect.

[T2X]

People who care about this stuff usually have done all of their homework about it ages ago. With this wonderful tool called the internet, you can look up anything you want before trying it out or purchasing something. I do agree they should of had more of the units available at more locations, and much earlier on in the marketing campaign though. Most people I speak to, are excited for VR, but just didn't have the $300 and up dollars to shell out for it, along with the moves controllers and the camera and then the games ect? It's still a pricey proposition. But, I'll admit I bought it day 1 and I was blown away by it. even the PSVR being what they have said is the cheapest one on the market, it is still amazing tech. I wasn't sorry about buying it at all. The stuff I've played and seen is justification enough for myself anyway.

[yeahokwhatever]

If Sony came to my door trying to sell me things I'd sell my PlayStation.

[Chuska]

I acted fast and got registered for a trial.. Why not.. I'm not gonna keep it, just see what it's like.. Getting the Skyrim bundle.. Just hope my brain can take the awesomeness

[hongthay]

You just wait until you are actually in Skyrim pulling out the bow, or dual wielding spells with the bow, then turn around and flinch as a wolf jumps at you. I don't think you will be returning the awesomeness. My wife hardly ever played games with me on the PS4, but since trying the PSVR she is actually happy to jump into it a couple nights a week. Give Playroom VR, the VR Worlds London Heist game, and I Expect you to Die a chance.

[Hardiman]

It's amazing absolutely amazing! Resident Evil 7 and Skyrim will blow your mind in VR. It's not a gimmick, I had Kinect and a Wii and this is viable tech that if used properly can give gamers awesome experiences.

To get the best out of it you have to adjust the settings and you'll be ready to rock and roll!

[jojo319]

I received the offer and have already ordered it. I’m in the camp of being incredibly gun shy due to Sony getting cold feet pretty quickly on peripherals. I just dont trust them to commit to this. That being said, before this offer there was zero chance I was going to go try it at a store, and now I’m going to try it at home with my wife and kids. Who knows, maybe THEY will want to keep it. I think it’s a smart move.

[balance2theforce]

I'm sorry, but clearly it's not doing that well. You don't keep dropping the price, doing bundle after bundle (packing in one of your newest games and packing in one of your more anticipated games with a periphetal) , and letting people just hold on to the thing for two weeks barely a year after it's debut if it was. Especially since it's not like it was exactly selling gangbusters None of us truly know the inner workings and reasoning for this over at sony of course, but from the outside looking in it looks like desperation.

And let's keep it real, if this was Nintendo and/or especially MS, there would be no shortage of folks rushing in to label it just that. Now though, we've got just a bunch of aww Shucks and what a swell idea kinda comments! Which...it is I suppose in a way. It's sort of along the lines of when people say there's no greater teacher than experience. Hands on should surely help any product get noticed. Doesn't mean that it's not s good idea that is being made out of desperation though.

I gues now though that if anyone else decides to do something similar with any of their products that the precedent us set that it's a good idea since the consensus at n4g atm that this practice is indeed that.

[Zeke68]

Actually.. Sony said from the beginning that they would love a price tag on PSVR bundle around 180-200 € but all the new tech have a lot of manufacturing costs to get the ball rolling. Now we see how the initial costs are done and they can start lowering the price, little by little.
This is not a sign of low sales, it's a normal cost progression used by all new technologies.

[THC CELL]

Vr quiet big on sony half

Listen to me now tho

Play mm dreams on vr the user created games in vr are amazing. Even developers are amazed outside mm

[Stay-Toasty]

I got the email and code but their already out of stock 😣😣😣

[MatrixxGT]

Same..

[Mr_Luke]

Wow!! Of course this won't happen in Europe, i guess?

[ILostMyMind]

It is not in my country, not even on my side of the hemisphere. 😫😫

[Scottyabanks]

Got the email, but was too late. Already reached maximum units. Great idea though cause I've been teetering on buying one. Just wanted to be able to try it first.

[PistolsAtDawn]

This is the first time I've ever heard of a company let people try hardware for free in their home. It must seriously not be meeting expectations. However, the spin on this site is incredible. If MS was letting people try the X or Kinect in their home it would be touted as proof of failure....here, it's "great idea Sony"

[Skankinruby]

If you weren't such a Microsoft troll on here I might find some logic to this theory. The skyrim bundle was one of the hottest selling black Friday items, vr ain't going anywhere.

[rainslacker]

Bose has some stereos, quite a few high end vacuums, pioneer had something for laser disc players back on the day, JVC had it for a while with VCR, quite a few speaker makers have these promotions from time to time, etc.

But guess since you never heard of it its never done unless something isn't selling well.

VR is one of those things that's easier to market through the experience, because it's the experience that is being sold. It's a promotion plain and simple. If VR was struggling heavily, Sony wouldn't be pushing the system as hard as they are. Sony has a habit of marketing successful products more than those which are struggling

[SameOldx2]

Sony also has a habit of marketing both good and bad products and dropping support later just like any other corp. If VR is selling so well, why is there a free trial? Ps4 is the top console right now. No free trial for it. many stores already have a good return policy.

[rainslacker]

Yeah, Sony has dropped support in the past.

But VR is said to be selling what Sony was hoping to sell, at least based on what they said before it's release.

The free trial could be because they know it's one of those things that can compel people if they have the chance to try it, and if I had to guess, they're also banking on anyone who wasn't compelled to use it past the trial, may not return it in time so they'll get another sale. kind of like how those refund offers don't expect even half the people to go through the trouble to send it in.

I'm not saying that PSVR is selling gangbusters, but I'm not sure what people expected for a new tech, which is decidedly hardcore in nature, is hard to market, and up until recently had a rather high entry cost.

It seems some people expect it to be selling tens of millions of units in the first year or something. I believe it's around 1.5 million right now. For what the tech is, I'd say that's a pretty decent start, and certainly better than any other effort to make VR a thing in the past. It's also getting plenty of support, so the games must be selling, and if Sony and other companies invested in it can keep it going for the long term, then they'll make something of VR.

As far as a game console, that's a different kind of thing. People pretty much know what they're getting, and you can see what the experience is without having to get the actual system.

Sure, a lot of stores have a good return policy, but most stores don't even get you a week to return something involving gaming hardware. Even then, it's usually only for defective systems and they usually offer a replacement.

[Gwiz]

Microsoft has given things for free for keeps (Xbox360 Slim E3 2010) but that was the press LOL
Tell me this though,why would MS let you try the Xbox One X?and Kinect?you didn't have a choice not that long ago XD.This is a great idea,it just happens to be Sony.

[GNCFLYER]

It's a fantastic idea. It's a gotta try it to believe it thing.

Even some comments on here leads me to believe some people think inside the VR world everything is flag. I don't think people get it's 360 degrees of stereoscopic 3D.

There are TV and clips I've seen which were flat but their doing it wrong.

But have that CC ready and don't forget to send it back lol..

[balance2theforce]

Oh you absolutely KNOW that it would. Or, even if this was say Nintendo doing this with the Switch it would be touted as they're not having faith in the product or something.around here. The spin is certainly real. And that's not saying that it's not a decent idea, but the spin is certainly real. As we know that we certainly wouldn't see such easy going and thinking it's a great idea over such a move if this was any of the competition.

Shit, some of these same folks thinking this is a great idea are day in and day out acting like MS putting their games on PC is not one and/or an act of desperation. Even though we all know that software is where the money is at, hey get to sell a lot more of it that way, and you pretty much have to go through their means to play them. Hell the Xbox One X has been labeled an act of desperation by some folks here and it's just a mid-gen refresh like the pro. Ironic how stuff like that are treated so negatively, but this is somehow the greatest idea they've heard this week.

One good thing though about this is that there's a precedent now set. So if or when a competitor does something similar, they have effectively taken away their right and opportunity to label it a bust or try and paint it as a negative or whatever to crap on it or that company.

[Lexreborn2]

I got this email.... but I’ve got VR already it was a nice marketing idea

[chuckyj1]

This is Sony's Kinect... Enough said.

[nowitzki2004]

Nothing will be that bad

[balance2theforce]

Well, to be fair Kinect sold waaaaaaay more than psvr has in the same time frame bruh. If psvr had even sold a fraction of what Kinect had at that time, I would bet dollars to donuts that this grand gesture from sony would be non existent.

[Kribwalker]

https://www.gamespot.com/ar...

I did not know 24 million sales on the 360 alone was bad.....hmmmm

[Gwiz]

Sony never forced VR on you lol,that's such a dumb statement.

[chuckyj1]

Correct @Kribwalker and Balance2theforce.. Initially Kinect was a success and sold many millions of units... However, not making the right type of games for it (Kinect Sports 1 was really fun)... But had so few and far between games it crashed hard and was ultimately deemed a failure...

@Gwiz... Yea... Sony never forced it on you... But, when Kinect sold really well... neither did MS... Kinect absolutely destroyed the PSVR in terms of sales (that's undisputable) and was deemed a failure... PSVR is def. looking like a failure form the word Go...

[rainslacker]

Who deemed Kinect a failure? It was probably the most successful peripheral for consoles ever. It wasn't even lacking in support....although the quality of that support was sporatic. It did so well, that MS thought people would be willing to have it included in their current gen system. They wanted to remove the peripheral status of it. MS greatly misjudged the market it was selling to, but that doesn't mean the original Kinect was a failure. The Kinect 2 was though because of MS miscalculation, eventually returning it to a peripheral status, and ultimately, having extremely crappy support for this gen.

Overall though, I'd say that PSVR is much better support than Kinect was, and it already has more good games for it than Kinect had for it's entire lifetime.

Right now the only one's that matter on determining the PSVR's success is Sony, and the publishing community. If Sony is making enough to make it worth their while, they'll keep selling and supporting it. If the software keeps selling, which it is, then it'll keep getting made. Whether people feel it's a failure or not based on whatever metric they want is completely worthless, and if it keeps selling(hardware and software), then it's a perfectly acceptable thing for those that want it to keep enjoying it.

[chuckyj1]

@Rainslacker What made Kinect a failure? The simple fact no developer... Wanted to develop games for it? The fact you could count all the actual good games on one hand... (Kinect sports 1&2, Kinect Adventures (pack-in)) There I'm done can you add anymore good games to the list?

[WilliamSheridan]

Can N4G please properly screen the ads they accept! I get more redirects from this site than anywhere. It's really annoying.

[Drakul]

I tried, do not waste your time. VR is already dead.

[Vectrexer]

Good job Sony!

[NotanotherReboot]

getting desperate?

[Gwiz]

This is a good way to experience it,it's better for them as well not having to provide test booths.
It's not selling?well maybe not as much as they want but it's definitely not dead.

[AmstradAmiga]

Only thing missing is a tacky infomercial.