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For $99, Gear VR Is an Affordable Way Into Virtual Reality

Gear VR wants to reach as many people as possible this November.
Image: Oculus VR

Oculus and Samsung just announced an affordable way to get into virtual reality.

SVP of Samsung mobile Peter Koo was at the second annual Oculus Connect event today to reveal the final model of Gear VR, the mobile virtual reality headset that uses a Samsung smart phone as a display and Oculus's mobile virtual reality technology.

The 20 percent lighter, more comfortable consumer version of Gear VR will cost $99 when it comes to stores this November, before Black Friday. That's significantly cheaper than the $200 Innovator version of Gear VR aimed at developers and enthusiasts that's been out since last year.

That price doesn't include the cost of the smartphone you'll need to use Gear VR, but the device will now also support any new Samsung smartphone, whereas it previously only worked with the Galaxy S6 and the Note 4.

In terms of what you'll be able to do with it, Samsung and Oculus announced that Gear VR now supports Netflix and Twitch, allowing you to view video in a shared virtual room with your friends. Oculus also announced Oculus Arcade, a virtual arcade where you can play classic games like Pac-Man.

This of course is in addition to the growing lineup of Gear VR-compatible games available through Oculus's online store.

The Gear VR isn't going to provide virtual reality experiences with the depth and visual fidelity of the Oculus Rift proper, but as Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe explained, that's not the point. The Gear VR's mission is to get virtual reality into as many happens as possible, and at $99, it's well positioned to do that.