Take-Two getting into VR

As the new wave of virtual reality headsets has taken shape in recent years, few publishers have been as openly skeptical of the emerging market's viability as Take-Two Interactive. Take-Two chairman and CEO Strauss Zelnick has questioned the mass appeal of VR, labelled it "an anti-social technology," and suggested that Take-Two would sit on the sidelines until the market had proven out.

Zelnick may have warmed to the tech since those comments were made, as Take-Two today announced its first VR title, Carnival Games VR for HTC Vive, PlayStation VR, and Oculus Rift. The original Carnival Games was a successful minigame collection on the Wii that spawned a number of spin-offs and sequels. Collectively, the franchise has shipped 9 million copies worldwide. Like its predecessors, Carnival Games VR will be a minigame collection, but with a dozen different VR-tailored activities for players, like ring toss, a shooting gallery, and a climbing wall.

"Virtual reality is an exciting new emerging platform that has the potential to enhance the way that interactive entertainment is created and experienced," said 2K senior vice president of marketing Sarah Anderson. "As our first foray into this space, we wanted to deliver a highly accessible entertainment experience that would allow players to immerse themselves in the familiar, classic fun of our Carnival Games series. With its stylized interactive environments and all-new features, Carnival Games VR will deliver the magic of the midway like never before."

Carnival Games VR is set for release October 28 on Vive and PSVR, with an Oculus Rift launch expected later this year. The game will be downloadable only, and offered at a $20 price point.