HTC is bundling a free copy of Star Trek: Bridge Crew with each purchase of the Vive, its virtual reality headset.
Buy An HTC Vive And You'll Get 'Star Trek: Bridge Crew' For Free
The company confirmed the promotion on Tuesday, May 30. It entitles anyone who purchases its headset a free copy of the said game going forward. For the uninitiated, the HTC Vive is one of the most popular full-fledged VR headsets available in the market — a room-scale VR system with two motion controllers included.
Star Trek: Bridge Crew, on the other hand, is a brand-new VR game from Ubisoft and Red Storm Entertainment, putting players in charge of a Federation vessel navigating deep space. The game features a solo campaign, but its most compelling feature is an online cooperative mode where other players can work together to complete mission objectives.
The Future Of VR
According to Digi-Capital, a tech adviser firm, VR spending is set to hit $30 billion in 2020. However, it's clear that most people haven't jumped on the bandwagon yet, possibly because dedicated VR systems can be extremely pricey. If it becomes more affordable, expands its games library significantly, or both — VR could hightail further into mainstream territory.
A free game right off the bat could at least help mitigate the headset's steep price, and it's not just any game, too — it's Star Trek, one of the world's most popular science-fiction franchises. Tech Times has spoken highly of the game last year during E3, and it's easy to imagine for the game to win players' hearts.
Star Trek fans could beeline toward this game in droves, raising Vive sales along the way. What's more, because the game boasts clever multiplayer features, players can encourage their friends to get the game as well.
Star Trek: Bridge Crew is one of the biggest multiplatform releases so far for 2017, also debuting on PlayStation VR and the Oculus Rift. Most importantly, it's a Star Trek game — for the VR platform, no less. It's arguably the most immersive Star Trek title fans will ever get to experience, all from the comfort of their own homes.
Will it be the game that pushes VR sales to the next level? That's a tall order, especially because there are a lot of things VR needs to sort out itself first, with the main hurdle being the contentious price point. But bundling Star Trek: Bridge Crew is a start.
HTC Vive 'Star Trek: Bridge Crew' Deal
The bundle is now available for $799, though it's worth noting that the sale is labeled "while supplies last." Also, the bundle is only available until the end of June, so anyone in the market for picking up a VR headset — and a free game, to boot — should be looking at HTC's offer.
Thoughts about the HTC Vive? Planning to finally buy an HTC Vive because of the Star Trek: Bridge Crew deal? As always, feel free to sound off your thoughts and concerns in the comments section below!
