First Contact Entertainment and VRsenal Showcase VR Gun Peripheral and Haptic Vest for ROM: Extraction at CES 2017

Sci-fi action shooter playable with the VRsenal VR-15 rifle at HTC’s booth in the Alsace Ballroom at The Wynn

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Jan. 4, 2017 – New virtual reality studio First Contact Entertainment will be at CES showing fresh functionality for its ever-expanding pick-up-and-play shooter, ROM: Extraction, out now for the HTC VIVE VR headset and Oculus Rift (via both Steam and the Oculus Store). Located within HTC’s booth at the Alsace Ballroom at The Wynn, attendees will be able to play the acclaimed VR game using the VRsenal VR-15 rifle peripheral and haptic vest for the first time and check out other unannounced goodies, as well. This collaboration between First Contact, VRsenal, and HTC Vive is tailored to meet the growing demand for location-based, arcade VR experiences.

“The core of ROM: Extraction is all about instant action. We want immediate heart palpitations,” said Hess Barber, co-founder and president of First Contact Entertainment. “Picking up the VR-15 rifle in the real world and seeing it move inside the game elevates that intensity and immersion to unprecedented levels. And it’s an immensely satisfying way to annihilate hostile alien robots. This is VR gaming in 2017 as it’s meant to be.”

“New VR peripherals are a critical component to delivering an immersive VR experience and building out the ever-growing Vive ecosystem,” said Dan O’Brien, VP Virtual Reality, HTC VIVE. “We built Vive to deliver the most immersive, room-scale VR experience on the market today. Companies like First Contact and VRsenal help us meet this vision and we’re excited to see what the VR-15 rifle offers to the VR experience.”

VRsenal builds the highest quality VR peripherals and integrations on the market. The VR-15 is completely wireless, with zero lag, and is fully integrated with the Vive’s Lighthouse system, allowing every move to be tracked with sub-millimeter accuracy. The VR-15 is constructed of engineering-grade nylon, and is hand-finished with a worn metal patina. It’s also outfitted with weighted trigger pull, four ambidextrous analogue thumbsticks, and glass optics for authenticity.

The team at First Contact has leveraged its background crafting AAA first-person-shooter games and cutting-edge VR projects to give ROM: Extraction an intense, highly replayable punch. Players defend themselves against extraterrestrial robots by utilizing their “Reflex” power (the ability to slow down time), which brings an unprecedented style of strategic combat to VR—which First Contact has dubbed “throw, slow and shoot.” Beyond the expanded functionality brought by the VR-15, ROM: Extraction has a robust DLC plan that includes cooperative multiplayer, new levels, enemies, weapons, power-ups and more in the coming months. Today’s version of the game is just the tip of the iceberg.

ROM: Extraction is available now on Steam and the Oculus Store for $19.99.

VRsenal’s products are available to commercial partners through www.VRsenal.com.

About First Contact Entertainment

First Contact Entertainment is a new studio focused on creating VR games and experiences with the highest production values. Drawing from experience building some of the most innovative VR games, the company’s mission is to become the top independent AAA VR game development team in the industry. For more information, please follow the studio on Facebook, Twitter and www.firstcontactent.com.

About VRsenal

VRsenal is a market leader in premium virtual reality peripherals and integrations, bringing together the latest technological advancements from across the VR space to create cutting edge products and experiences unavailable anywhere else on the planet. For more information, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter and www.VRsenal.com.

PLAYSTATION®4 (PS4™) SELLS THROUGH 6.2 MILLION UNITS WORLDWIDE DURING THE 2016 HOLIDAY SEASON

~ PS4 Software Sell through 50.4 Million over the Same Period, 

UNCHARTED 4: A Thief’s End, reached a cumulative sell through of more than 8.7 Million copies globally ~

SAN MATEO, CA, January 4, 2017 – Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) today announced robust sales for PlayStation®4 (PS4™) computer entertainment system and its software titles this holiday. That includes:

• PS4 has sold through more than 6.2 million units during the 2016 holiday season^*1.
• PS4 has now cumulatively sold through more than 53.4^*2 million units globally as of January 1, 2017.
• PS4 software sales also remained strong during the 2016 holiday season with more than 50.4 million copies^*3 sold in retail stores worldwide and through digital downloads on PlayStation®Store as of January 1, 2017.  UNCHARTED 4: A Thief’s End reached a cumulative sell through of more than 8.7 million copies globally^*4 as of December 21, 2016.

“We are truly grateful for the tremendous support from our fans and partners, which has helped to make this holiday season one of the best in our history.” said Andrew House, President and Global CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment. “We will aim to continue the momentum this year by broadening the PS4 title portfolio, further enriching the revolutionary gaming experiences on PlayStation VR^*5 and high quality gaming experience on PlayStation4 Pro^*6, while also expanding network services.  We will remain steadfast in making the PS4 the best place to play.”

The PS4 system is currently available in 123 countries and regions^*7 worldwide.

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*1  Number of retail sales to consumers is estimated by SIE. PS4 sales data in Japan and Asia collected 21/11/2016 – 1/1/2017, in North America and Latin America collected 20/11/2016 – 31/12/2016, in Europe collected 21/11/2016 – 31/12/2016.

*2   Number of retail sales to consumers is estimated by SIE. Sales data in Japan collected 22/2/2014 – 1/1/2017, in North America collected 15/11/2013 – 31/12/2016, in Europe and Latin America collected 29/11/2013 – 31/12/2016, and in Asia collected 17/12/2013 – 1/1/2017.

*3   Number of retail sales to consumers is estimated by SIE.  Sales data in Japan and Asia collected 21/11/2016 – 1/1/2017, in North America and Latin America collected 20/11/2016 – 31/12/2016, in Europe collected 21/11/2016 – 31/12/2016.

*4   Includes worldwide sell through data for both Blu-ray Disc sell-through quantities and digital sales.

*5   PlayStation®VR

*6   PlayStation®4 Pro

*7   As of 7/12/2016

About Sony Interactive Entertainment

Recognized as a global leader in interactive and digital entertainment, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is responsible for the PlayStation® brand and family of products and services. PlayStation has delivered innovation to the market since the launch of the original PlayStation in Japan in 1994. The PlayStation family of products and services include PlayStation®4, PlayStation®VR, PlayStation®Vita, PlayStation®3, PlayStation®Store, PlayStation®Plus, PlayStation™Video, PlayStation™Music, PlayStation™Now, PlayStation™Vue, PlayStation®Original and acclaimed PlayStation software titles from SIE Worldwide Studios. Headquartered in San Mateo, California, SIE is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation and has global functions and regional headquarters in California, London and Tokyo.

“PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.. “PS4” is a trademark of the same company.

All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.