PlayStation VR Will Ship with Physical Demo Disc

Don’t call it a comeback; mainly because it’s likely a one-time deal. Sony’s upcoming PlayStation VR will ship with a demo disc that contains free samples of eight games. I can’t wait until I get my hands on one so I can wave it in kids’ faces and go on “back in my day” rants.

There are eight demos on the disc: Driveclub VR, PlayStation VR Worlds, RIGS Mechanized Combat League, Tumble VR, Battlezone, EVE: Valkyrie, Wayward Sky, and Headmaster. PlayStation VR Worlds isn’t a game so much as a compilation of tech demos to show off what the platform can do. I can’t help but think about the original PlayStation’s demo disc that featured a tyrannosaurus rex tech demo that blew my fragile, 11-year-old mind.

Nostalgic value aside, this might be a way for Sony to ensure that the launch goes smoothly. VR games, even demos, aren’t exactly small in size and having a bunch of users downloading them all simultaneously on launch day could present problems. By using physical media, that takes the burden off of Sony’s servers. The nostalgia could just be a really cool bonus.

PlayStation VR launches on October 13th and the launch bundle will retail for $499.