Dave & Buster's VR is becoming a reality as the American restaurant/video arcade plans on installing over 500 HTC Vive VR headsets in its arcades across Canada and the US. The entertainment chain has yet to announce what titles will be available for the headsets but it has confirmed that it will be offering multiplayer experiences. HTC has also promised that it will create a "proprietary, multiparticipant motion platform" designed specifically for Dave & Buster's VR experience.
The large-scale release of VR headsets across Dave & Buster's chains will be the largest introduction of VR into arcades and could possibly increase the use of VR across smaller chains and arcades. The use of the HTC Vive in Dave & Buster's VR would also push sales of the headset to home users, as Dave & Buster's offers a perfect demo ground for the device.
Image Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Vr-integrated Arcades
- The large-scale release of VR headsets across Dave & Buster's chains could increase the use of VR across smaller chains and arcades.
- Multiplayer VR Experiences
- The offering of multiplayer experiences with HTC Vive headsets in Dave & Buster's arcades presents an opportunity for developing innovative multiplayer VR games.
- Motion Platform Integration
- The development of a proprietary motion platform by HTC specifically for Dave & Buster's VR experience has disruptive potential in the arcade industry, creating more immersive and dynamic virtual reality experiences.
Where This Applies
- Entertainment Chains
- The large-scale integration of VR headsets in Dave & Buster's arcades creates an opportunity for other entertainment chains to follow suit and enhance their offerings with virtual reality experiences.
- Arcade Industry
- The introduction of VR headsets in Dave & Buster's arcades sets a precedent for the arcade industry to embrace virtual reality as a means of attracting and engaging customers.
- VR Hardware Manufacturers
- The partnership between Dave & Buster's and HTC Vive opens up possibilities for other VR hardware manufacturers to collaborate with entertainment chains in order to expand the reach of VR technology in the industry.
