HTC is expanding the reach of its VR app store by introducing the Viveport Arcade platform. Viveport Arcade is of particular interest as it caters to arcades and internet cafes who want a convenient solution for getting VR content. HTC has already begun pilot programmes in China, but it looks like the company wants this to go global.
Viveport itself is not exactly a new platform. It was quietly rolled out in September, and didn’t quite make that much of a splash. This expansion of reach extends the audience of the HTC Vive; or at least it tries to do so.
As it stands, Viveport Arcade functions similar to the regular version of Viveport; but introduces a new payment system for monetising content in cybercafes. The idea is that these businesses would buy minutes of play for each title; with the proceeds being split between HTC and the developer of the game.
Viveport Arcade is intended to allow people who cannot afford the hardware setup for VR to experience it in cybercafes. As such, HTC is hoping to expand the pilot programme beyond China in the near future. The company is expected to reach out to the USA and Europe, but it sounds like this is something that would be better served in Asia instead.
[Source: PR Newswire]
