Today, the Tokyo Game Show 2021 (TGS) has shared the official schedule for the upcoming event which is set to take place at the end of September. The show organisers have also unveiled a few more details relating to the teased virtual reality (VR) element from a few months ago, confirming that it’ll be an entirely immersive experience for Oculus Quest and PC users.
One of the major videogame events alongside Gamescom and the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), TGS will once again be an online event featuring showcases from Xbox, Konami, Koei Tecmo, Bandai Namco, Square Enix and many more. However, unlike those other events, TGS 2021 will feature a VR component where users can wander around a virtual environment, being able to visit booths as if they were at a real show.
The Tokyo Game Show VR 2021 website only has a few details at present, with some translated blurb saying: “The game show is closer to the game. You can have more freedom and more fun. Believing that, we will challenge the shape of the future game show. That is TGSVR, the first VR game show in history. This is an epic experiment.”
While it won’t be the first show in VR as others like VRDays Europe held a virtual booth element in 2020, it definitely will be the first time a major videogame event has embraced VR in this way. To enjoy the experience you’ll either need an Oculus Quest (1 or 2) or a PC running headsets like Oculus Rift or HTC Vive. PC and Mac owners without a VR headset can also take part.
There are no further details on how the Tokyo Games Show VR 2021 will be held, whether it’s through a dedicated app or utilising an already existing platform like AltspaceVR or VRChat. Exhibitors confirmed for the virtual booths include Bandai Namco, Fignny, GungHo Online Entertainment, Koei Tecmo, Konami, Level-5, MyDearest Inc, Survios and SEGA/ATLUS. So you can expect a mixture of VR and non-VR titles making an appearance.
The VR showcase will run alongside the main event, between 30th September to 3rd October 2021. For further updates from the Tokyo Game Show 2021, keep reading VRFocus.