Tokyo Game Show's organizers have announced the schedule for this year's show, detailing what fans can expect from the four-day event. Unexpectedly, this includes a VR version that will be available on select virtual reality headsets.
The show's organizers have yet to elaborate on exactly how Tokyo Game Show VR 2021 will deliver in terms of a unique experience, but the official website teases that VR users will be able to "visit booths as if you were wandering around inside the gaming world." Organizers of the event said that the VR version of the show is a "grand experiment" and that they are "taking on the challenge of building the game show of [the] future."
Tokyo Game Show VR 2021 will be available when the show begins on September 30 and will support the following VR headsets: Oculus Quest 1 & Quest 2, Oculus Rift, and the HTC Vive. Oculus Quest owners will have the option to stream the VR version natively through their headset in addition to PC.
The website also details the specifications required to run the VR version of the showcase. This includes Quest owners having an internet connection of 20Mbps or higher if you plan to run the show natively on those VR headsets. If you are using a different headset, the website also details the PC requirements needed.
Tokyo Game Show, like E3 and Gamescom, is among the biggest of the annual gaming events – but it's the firt to try and transplant its physical edition into a VR world to allow fans to experience the showcase. Tokyo Game Show 2021, like E3 2021 and Gamescom 2021, will be online-only due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A VR version could provide gamers another way to experience the event without watching live streams on their mobile device or computer.
Tokyo Game Show 2021 is not the only event this year to try out VR, however. In August, Virtual Market 6 held an online convention and marketplace through VR Chat.
Taylor is the Associate Tech Editor at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
