The CEO of Take-Two Interactive Strauss Zelnick has launched a stinging attack on the first wave of high-end VR devices, claiming the majority of gamers have neither the funds nor the space to support them.
Speaking at a conference in in New York, the GTA V distributor said systems like the Oculus Rift and the hulking PCs necessary to power them are “way too expensive right now.”
In comments reported by GameSpot Zelnick said: “There is no market for a $2,000 entertainment device that requires you to dedicate a room to the activity. I don’t know what people could be thinking.”
Zelnick also claimed the majority of would-be consumers simply don’t have a full room they’re able to devote to immersive VR gaming.
In comments that will be noted by those who wanted to buy a HTC Vive but put off by the need for up to 15 x 15 feet in space, Zelnick claimed most folks only have space for their screen and a couch.
He added: “
“We have like $300 to spend on an entertainment device and we do not have a dedicated room. We have a room for a screen, a couch, and controllers.
“We don’t have something where you stand in a big open space and hold two controllers with something on your head – and not crash into the coffee table. We don’t have that.”
Related: Oculus Rift vs HTC Vive: Which should you buy?
Zelnick’s real talk comes just a couple of weeks after he mentioned the possibility of Take-Two and Rockstar pursuing VR aggressively for franchises like GTA and Red Dead Redemption, should it become the platform of choice for consumers.
Of course, some modders have already served up an idea of what GTA V may look like in full VR and, quite frankly, it’s brutal.
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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.
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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.
