Nintendo is set to be the next company to enter the virtual reality space. Announced late yesterday, Nintendo will be releasing the next Nintendo Labo kit which will turn players’ Nintendo Switch into a pair of virtual reality goggles. This will be Nintendo’s first VR endeavor since the release of the ill fated Virtual Boy in 1996. The kit will include six separate toy-con creations for players to build that can be purchased all together or separately. The Nintendo Labo VR kit is set to release on April 12, 2019.
According to Nintendo’s Doug Bowser in the official press release, the purpose of the Labo VR kit is ” to introduce virtual reality in a way that’s fun and approachable for both kids and kids at heart.” While the kit is used to introduce VR to players, the VR elements of the toy-cons can be turned off to be played in 2D on the Nintendo Switch itself. The full Labo VR kit includes all six toy-con creations, and is set to retail for $79.99 USD. Players will also be able to purchase just the Starter Set for $39.99 USD which includes the VR goggles and Blaster toy-cons.
For those that purchase the Starter Set, Nintendo will release the other four toy-cons in two different expansions for $19.99 USD each. The first is set to include the Elephant and Camera toy-cons, and the second will include the Bird and Wind Pedal toy-cons. However, these two expansions will only be available through Nintendo’s official website.
Nintendo has been on a roll since the release of the Nintendo Switch in March 2017. While the company missed their projections for sales of the system during their fiscal year, the hybrid console was the best selling console in the U.S. during 2018. The console also recently passed an astounding 32 million units sold worldwide, and achieved being the fastest selling console of the generation. Elsewhere, it was recently announced that longtime face of the company and Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime is retiring come April.