UK retailer GAME has issued a statement after some stores controversially began charging customers for PlayStation VR demonstrations.
Certain branches are asking eager gamers to cough up £5 for 10-minutes and £15 for half an hour trials, sparking outrage among some in the gaming community.
In the statement released to Eurogamer the firm said it, not Sony, are running the trials and the fee is simply to pay staff manning the experience.
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The company also said it would be refunding customers who then go on to buy a PlayStation VR headset.
“Our pay-to-play PlayStation VR experience is a GAME-led initiative,” the statement reads. “The cost to use the in-store PS4 pod is entirely refundable for customers that go on to buy either the headset or a PS4 console.
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“The demos are intended to give our customers access to one of the most exciting new gaming technologies in 2016 and provide them with the opportunity to get a feel for VR before they commit to buy.”
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Do you think GAME is within its rights to charge gamers for the right to demo PlayStation VR? Or is the company taking advantage of gamers desires to experience VR? Should Sony step in here?
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.