So Nintendo has finally done it. After plenty of rumours circulating that the company was adding virtual reality (VR) to it’s highly popular Switch console, today the Japanese gaming giant has officially announced the Nintendo Labo: VR Kit.
Just like the other Nintendo Labo kits, this VR version (Toy-Con #4) has several components, with a total of six items to build. The first and main one is the VR Goggles which combines with the other modules to offer a mixture of experiences. The rest are the Toy-Con Blaster, Toy-Con Elephant, Toy-Con Camera, Toy-Con Wind Pedal and Toy-Con Bird.
All the pieces in the Nintendo Labo: VR Kit work in the same way as Google Cardboard, you just hold the VR Goggles up to your face, no head strap needed. The Jon-Con controllers are then situated in certain positions to allow players to easily interact with specific content – no details have yet been released regarding the videogames.
“This new kit builds on the core tenets of Nintendo Labo – Make, Play and Discover – to introduce virtual reality in a way that’s fun and approachable for both kids and kids at heart,” said Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “We wanted to design an experience that encourages both virtual and real-world interactions among players through passing around Toy-Con creations.”
Due to launch on 12th April, the Nintendo Labo: VR Kit will come in four flavours. The full kit which includes Nintendo Switch software and materials to build all six Toy-Con projects – the Toy-Con VR Goggles, Toy-Con Blaster, Toy-Con Camera, Toy-Con Bird, Toy-Con Wind Pedal and Toy-Con Elephant – as well as a Screen Holder and Safety Cap. This has a suggested retail price of $79.99 USD/ £79.99 GBP.
Or you can buy the Nintendo Labo: VR Kit – Starter Set & Blaster which has the Nintendo Switch software, plus all the components to build the Toy-Con VR Goggles and Toy-Con Blaster, as well as the Screen Holder and Safety Cap, all for $39.99/£39.99.
If after buying the Starter Set you want the additional VR Kit components then they will be available as expansion packs. With a suggested retail price of $19.99/£19.99 for either set, Expansion Set 1 includes the Toy-Con Elephant and Toy-Con Camera, while Expansion Set 2 includes the Toy-Con Wind Pedal and Toy-Con Bird. Both expansion sets will only be sold via the Nintendo online store.
Additionally, the Toy-Con Garage mode will be part of the VR Kit software, offering basic programming tools for players to experiment with. And if at any time players don’t wish to use the VR functionality it can be turned off, with all the videogames playable in 2D. For further updates on the Nintendo Labo: VR Kit, keep reading VRFocus.