Samsung’s Gear VR headset was designed to provide just that, amping up players’ immersion and making gaming more engaging. Available in the Oculus Store, the games and app below demonstrate Gear VR’s ability to bring the gaming experience to a whole new level.

Minecraft: Gear VR Edition

Minecraft: Gear VR Edition optimizes the global gaming phenomenon for Gear VR, allowing players to embark on the game’s fun solo adventures while fully immersed in its sprawling and inventive pixelated worlds.

Players navigate the blocky landscapes in first- or third-person perspective using their Xbox controller and Gear VR. The headset’s wide view not only makes building a personal kingdom more engaging, but also fosters the sensation that one is physically standing within their virtual domain, making it easier for players to explore new terrains and the limits of their imagination.

Herobound Gladiators

Herobound Gladiators is an online multiplayer RPG optimized for the Gear VR in which teams of players progress through challenging arenas battling hordes of ghouls and goblins.

Conquering waves of enemies and seizing victory requires optimizing a character’s arsenal of weapons and abilities and carefully coordinating attacks with teammates. Together with the Xbox controller, the Gear VR makes navigating each battle more fun and engaging, providing a 160-degree, strategic view that allows players to comfortably scan the battlefield and plot their course to victory.

SLIVER.tv

SLIVER.tv is an eSports app that allows professional gaming fans to be immersed in their favorite games even when they’re not playing themselves. With SLIVER.tv, users can enjoy a 360-degree VR gaming experience while watching eSports’ greatest champions do what they do best, through highlight videos and coverage of tournaments pitting the world’s best gamers against one another.

Gear VR’s immersive perspective provides SLIVER.tv users the best possible viewing experience, allowing them to take in the action from new angles, and making it easier to analyze their favorite champions’ in-game strategies.

Samsung Electronics invites game enthusiasts from around the world to enjoy an immersive on-site gaming experience at E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo), one of the largest game events in the world.

Samsung will demo the company’s latest technologies to provide off-the-charts experiences for thrill-seeking gamers. The technology on display includes:

• Vulkan API Game Experience –try the Galaxy S7 equipped with the Vulkan API that enables game developers to deliver amazing graphics and a high-quality gaming experience. Get the chance to play the first games leveraging the technology, Need for Speed No Limits, HIT and Vainglory.
• Gear VR Skateboarding– through a Gear VR headset, users will experience what it’s like to take a leap of faith on a 4D skateboard experience.
• Intuitive Tools– the Galaxy S7 comes with a game pack valued around $200 to kick-start your mobile gaming adventure. The Samsung Game Launcher and Game Tools let you control everything that can record gameplay, prevent from hitting and conserve battery.

“At Samsung, we always aim to provide new, diverse and fun ways for people to enjoy our technologies,” said Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. “We’re excited to couple one of the most cutting-edge graphics technology with the most advanced Samsung devices to bring a better gaming experience to gamers around the world.”

The Samsung booth will be open from June 14 – 16, and will also include a look at celebrated musician Lil Wayne’s new Sqvad Up mobile skateboarding game, along with an appearance and opportunity to meet the four-time Grammy Award winning rapper. During his time at their booth, Lil Wayne will also unveil a VR experience inspired by Sqvad Up 360, which was shot using Samsung’s Gear 360 camera.

“At Samsung, we listen to consumers and engineer products that deliver on those needs. From the rotating bezel to the range of apps, we give consumers the ability to personalize their devices and use them in ways that work best for their lifestyle,” said Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics.

Popular Gear S2 applications include:

• Unique, Stylish Watch Faces: From artists Jean-Michael, Jeremyville to Burton Morris, new designs announced this year from artists Jean-Michael, Jeremyville and Burton Morris will give users even more options to customize the Gear S2 to fit their style. These new watch faces will join already popular choices like the Snoopy design, available in multiple styles, and the Art Collaborated Watch Face series inspired by the American artist and social activist Keith Haring.

• On-the-Go Convenience: Whether on the ground or in the air, consumers can experience a convenient way to travel, without having to worry about the logistics of transportation. With the Uber app, users can schedule a ride from their location, expect reliable pick-up and pay without reaching for their wallet. With Iberia and KLM, travelers can easily check the flight information, check-in, and access the boarding for a quick scan-and-go.

• Fitness: Dedicated applications on Gear S2 make it easy for users to maintain a healthy lifestyle. With its built-in sensors and voice guide, the S-Health feature helps users achieve health and fitness targets. And for golf fans – from beginner to pro – Golf Navi, free on Gear S2, manages everything from measuring the distance to the hole and keeping score; the app can even locate the nearest golf course.

• Get in the Game: For a fun break any time of day, Bubble Bash is a popular game that takes advantage of the rotating bezel on the Gear S2 letting users burst bubbles and take a gaming break no matter their location.

Samsung Gear S2 and applications reflect Samsung’s commitment to collaborate with developers and partners to broaden the wearable ecosystem to give users more personal and smart wearable experiences.

This year, Samsung Electronics—in cooperation with Unity—is presenting an important development, bringing the popular and powerful Unity 3D game engine to Tizen. Visitors to the exhibition were able to try out the Tizen Unity demo for the Z1 and Z3 smartphones, as well as for Samsung Smart TV.

Through this powerful new tool, developers will be better able to create engaging, innovative games for the latest Tizen-powered devices.

Check out these photos of the Unity 3D game engine for Tizen in use at GDC 2016.

Samsung staff demonstrates the benefits of the Unity engine for app development on the Tizen platform at GDC 2016.

The Samsung TV Games and Samsung Mobile Z display booth at GDC 2016.

Images of a Unity-based car racing demo app being played on the Tizen platform.

Since releasing the industry’s first curved LED monitor in 2014, Samsung has continued to refine its design to accommodate growing demand from various user groups. The new CF591 and CF390 monitors feature many of Samsung’s latest innovations, including a sharper curve (1800R, translating to a curvature radius of 1,800 mm) and improved picture quality to deliver an optimal presentation that matches the shape of the human eye.

Samsung will launch the new curved monitors in the US, Europe and Asia in March and will expand the sales to other regions by April.

“As consumers seek a more pleasurable and immersive viewing experience – whether at work or at play – curved monitors can take their experience to the next level,” said Seog-gi Kim, Senior Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “The release of our cutting-edge curved displays signifies our commitment to continuous innovation and delivering the best viewing experience in any environment.”

A Viewing Experience that’s Easy on the Eyes

All of Samsung’s new curved monitors include a host of features that further reduce reflectance and visual fatigue, enabling users to view their screens for longer periods. The CF591 and CF390 displays leverage Samsung’s flicker-free technology to prevent interruptions that can strain users’ eyes. A complementary Eye Saver Mode setting further protects audiences from exposure to harmful blue light emissions. To benefit gamers and at-home entertainment users, all three displays include embedded AMD FreeSync Technology over HDMI^® functionality that synchronizes screen refresh rates with users’ AMD graphics cards to reduce input latency, stutter and lag when viewing interactive video content.

To deliver a more uniform presentation, Samsung’s CF591 and CF390 monitors offer a wide 178-degree viewing angle. This expanded visibility ensures that users can enjoy the full visual detail scope from multiple locations in the room, with less eye movement required.

Rich, Vibrant Color Presentation

By combining its optimized curvature and wide-angle viewing with premium color presentation and accuracy maintenance features, Samsung’s curved displays bring even the most minor visual details to life – even in traditionally environments for watching movies and playing video games. The displays’ 3,000:1 static contrast ratio is nearly three times higher than that of standard monitor alternatives, and presents content with deeper blacks and more pristine whites. All three curved monitors are reinforced with Samsung’s industry-leading Vertical Alignment (VA) panel technology to reduce backlight bleed and produce a more complete, high-quality picture.

To further amplify image detail, Samsung’s active color crystal technology supports sRGB 119 percent coverage within the CF591 monitor. This feature enables the CF591 to present a wider range of color hues and values than conventional displays allow, and share a more vivid picture with audiences.

For gaming users, Samsung’s Game Mode setting automatically adjusts picture conditions to become lighter or darker as dictated by gameplay, while also minimizing screen stuttering and tearing. These benefits, combined with the displays’ tight curve radius, give gamers a sense that the screen is surrounding them to inspire a more realistic experience. The CF591 monitor recently earned safety, quality and performance validation from UL (Underwriters Laboratories) following a rigorous testing process that evaluated its curved design, color presentation and viewing angles.

A Sleek, Stylish Design

Samsung’s CF591 and CF390 curved monitors feature a boundless, thin-bezel design that eliminates viewing borders and draws audiences into a distraction-free environment. This sophisticated boundless design facilitates the illusion that on-screen content is floating in mid-air and fosters a more immersive and captivating presentation.

Additionally, Samsung’s new monitors are built to be both practical and attractive, making them a compatible addition to any desktop or home entertainment setting. All three displays feature a metallic silver front and glossy white back that accentuate their curved structure. A circular stand elevates the look of the displays’ base while simultaneously providing stable support. Likewise, CF390 users can easily adjust their screen to the ideal height and viewing angle with the displays’ ergonomic tilt and swivel components.

An All-in-One Entertainment Center

Through amplified sound quality and versatile connectivity, the CF591 and CF390 displays transform on-screen content into a multi-sensory experience. The CF591 monitor features built-in dual 5W speakers that deliver enriched sound quality while preventing speaker and cable clutter on desktops. All three monitors also provide easy connectivity and seamless visual continuity for users’ PCs and gaming consoles through an embedded interface containing HDMI, D-Sub  ports and Display Port (only for the CF591).

Key Specifications

What makes a good smartphone?

Extraordinary design? Groundbreaking features? High-powered performance?

In short, a good smartphone is one that answers to the needs and demands of the user.

Created for today’s mobile lifestyle, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge do just that by leading the industry with a unique mobile experience that features a refined design, higher-quality camera, enhanced software functionality, and unsurpassed connectivity to a galaxy of services, products and experiences. In addition, Samsung’s latest flagship devices marry sleek design with powerful performance so users can do even more, faster and easier.

Here are seven reasons why the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge are the most anticipated smartphones yet.

1. High Quality Images, No Matter the Time of Day or Location

The most raved about new features of the latest additions to Samsung’s Galaxy S line-up are its new camera capabilities. As the first smartphones to apply Dual Pixel technology, the devices are able to capture high quality images in low light environments, while a large F1.7 aperture ensures brighter, sharper photographs. New Motion Panorama and Selfie Flash functions let users have an entirely new phonetography experience.

2. Refined Design

While preserving the design heritage of its predecessor, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge boast an even more seamless connection between its glass and metal materials, along with a slimmer rear camera. Thanks to the curvy form of the devices’ glass, these models now provide an even better grip and naturally fit in one hand. And, bringing back the microSD slot, the new flagship smartphones are more functional than ever.

3. Water and Dust Resistance

For people who work, travel and play in all kinds of locations and environments, the upgraded IP68 water and dust resistance of the devices is especially well-received. As the premium standard of protection against water and dust, the feature allows users to enjoy the sleek, curvy design of Samsung’s latest flagship smartphones without the inconvenience of a bulky additional case.

4. Made for Gaming

With their optimized hardware and enhanced UX, which allow for smoother graphics and longer playing times, Samsung’s new smartphones can satisfy even the most demanding mobile gamer. And with the new Game Launcher app, users now have the ability to take control of their mobile gaming experience with numerous customization options.

5. A Phone That Stands Out, Even When the Screen is Off

The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge offer a new Always On Display (AOD) feature that delivers constant information and notifications, such as the time or number of missed calls, while utilizing a miniscule amount of battery. With plenty of customization features, the AOD can be as unique as its user.

6. Simple and Soft UX

Customizable lock and home screens, beautified icons and the user-friendly Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system have taken the user experience of the new Galaxy smartphones to an entirely new level. In particular, the refined edge screen of the Galaxy S7 edge provides practical functions and easier access to users’ frequently used content and tasks.

7. An Assortment of Accessories

No smartphone is complete without its accessories, and Samsung offers a collection of them to complement the design and enhance the features of its just-revealed devices. From battery packs and a LINE Friends collection to a new LED View Cover and the lifestyle band, Charm, these new accessories offer seamless integration to enhance one’s personal style.

The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge will be available starting March 11 in select markets.

As smartphones grow ever more integrated into our lives, people expect to be able to use their phones for a wider variety of activities and experiences, such as playing games. And, as the performance of mobile devices continues to improve, more and more users are able to do so like never before.

The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, however, take mobile gaming to an entirely new level. With their optimized hardware, enhanced UX and Vulkan API, these smartphones have finally become full-fledged gaming machines, able to handle the toughest of specs. And with the new Game Launcher app, people now have the ability to simultaneously take control of their phones and maximize the gaming experience.

Optimized for Better Performance

With a more than 30 percent faster CPU speed,  a more than 60 percent faster GPU speed and 4GB of RAM, the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge have the power needed to satisfy the most demanding players, in the most intense games. With a very thin thermal spreader cooling system, these phones can run fast and cool.

The result is smoother graphics and longer playing times, as the entire phone is optimized to maximize the gaming experience. And now that these new Galaxy devices both have bigger batteries—3,000 mAh for the Galaxy S7 and 3,600 mAh for the Galaxy S7 edge—users have the power to keep on playing for longer than ever.

Game Launcher is a Game Changer

With the unveiling of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, Samsung is also launching a new, pre-loaded gaming app called Game Launcher. Equipped with a varied suite of tools, Game Launcher aims to make gaming even more fun and convenient on your mobile device.

Game Launcher allows you to maximize game-playing time through instant downloads, shortcuts and power-saving options. You can also turn off all your notifications while you’re playing to ensure you never get interrupted at a key point in the game. You can lock the Recent and Back keys, so you don’t accidently exit a game during a particularly frenetic part of the adventure. In addition, you can take screenshots, record your game, scores and rankings, and share them with your friends. With Game Launcher, the way you play will never be the same again.

Vulkan API Boosts Gaming Efficiency

Samsung’s latest advances in graphics set a new industry standard, as well. That’s because the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge are the first smartphones to utilize Vulkan: the next generation graphics API. With Vulkan’s focus on handling 3D graphics and games, it helps deliver higher performance while distributing the workload among multiple CPUs. In short, you can play all your favorite graphics-intensive games for even longer.

Games and Game Pads Put Users in Control

To show its commitment to offering the very best and most dynamic mobile gaming experience, Samsung took things one step further by giving Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge owners access to the Galaxy Game Pack, an exclusive package offering unique and exclusive in-game benefits. Packed with loads of some of the world’s most loved games from companies such as EA, Blizzard, Gameloft and KABAM, the package is worth over $200 US in value. All benefits are available via Samsung’s Galaxy App Store.

Users can get the most out of these games with optional Game Pads such as the Micro C.T.R.L.r, a compact, Bluetooth-connected controller optimized for smartphones; S.U.R.F.r, which boasts true gamepad controls with features specific to the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge; and Gamevice Controller, which allows for undetectable latency in gameplay due to its direct connection.

Micro C.T.R.L.r

S.U.R.F.r

Gamevice Controller

Because the gaming experience is so important to so many people, Samsung is committed to making the best mobile devices for gaming on the market. The result is the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, two mobile devices that clearly put consumers first for an unparalleled gaming experience.

*All functionality features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

Samsung will showcase the upgraded game service at CES 2016, enabling download and streaming games through 2016 Samsung Smart TVs. Recent additions include Assassin’s Creed III, Batman: Arkham Origins, and The LEGO Movie Videogame from PlayStationNow, will be available for gamers to stream games directly through their Samsung Smart TVs. The games available through the service will range from action, sports and racing to role playing game (RPG), first person shooter (FPS) and board games.

The addition of so many game titles will enhance Samsung’s Smart TV GAMES offering even further; so far, its service is being used by gamers in 43 countries, with a record of boasting 4.5 million monthly users – directly reflecting the increasing popularity of gaming in recent years.

The PlayStationNow service will also be improved in 2016. This service is available in the U.S. and Canada, and offers subscribers nearly 300 games, including recently added titles. Popular PlayStation 3 games such as Mortal Kombat, The Last of Us: Left Behind, God of War III, BioShock 2 and Borderlands 2 will also be included.

GameFly, one of the leading game streaming service that is currently available in 21 countries, from Brazil through Mexico, U.S. and Canada to Mainland Europe and Scandinavia, will have more than 100 console-game titles available on the 2016 Samsung Smart TV.

In addition to a massive expansion in streaming options, Samsung Smart TV users can also download over 100 games to play, including Revolt3, Deer Hunter, Eternity Warriors 3 and more.

“Samsung’s 2016 Smart TV lineup is a direct response to the expectation of consumers that their TVs should be more than just a device on which to watch content,” said Youngchan Kim, Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “The new Smart TV gaming service is just one feature of a TV that offers all-round entertainment. Our game offering will continue to expand, as Samsung partners with publishers of popular games.”

PlayStationNow

*To use the 7-Day FREE Trial, you need a free PlayStation®Network account, PlayStation Now compatible device, such as a select 2016 Samsung Smart TV, DualShock® 4 controller and a 5Mbs or greater broadband Internet connection. You also need to accept the PlayStation Network Terms of Service. Service availability and performance may vary by area or other factors. This 7-Day Free Trial gives you full access to the PlayStation Now game subscription catalog. At the end of the 7-day trial period, your PlayStation Now 1-Month Subscription will automatically begin and you will be billed $19.99 each month. You need a credit card or alternate payment method associated with your PlayStation Network account.

Mega Man and Resident Evil are registered trademarks of Capcom Co., Ltd., in the U.S. or other countries. Street Fighter is a registered trademark of Capcom U.S.A., Inc.

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Three Reasons to Enjoy Samsung Smart TV GAMES Even More

For more information about CES 2016, please visit our exclusive page #SAMSUNGxCES2016

As a movable media device, the Galaxy View is a new and unique mobile product in the market. At 18.4 inches, the Galaxy View is very convenient for enjoying content at arm’s length wherever someone wants, from any room in the house, with a big, immersive screen.

So it is not surprising the Galaxy View is also getting its own range of apps, to better take advantage of its full range of functions and features. Two apps that have recently debuted use Galaxy smartphones to make the Galaxy View even more fun and convenient, both for watching media content and gaming. Together with a third app, Family Square, the Galaxy View is quickly gaining a special ecosystem of programs that express its full functionality and versatility.

Remote Control

Rather than always stretching and reaching for the Galaxy View every time they want to change the volume or what they are watching, now people can use the Galaxy View Remote. The Galaxy View Remote connects any smartphone running on Android (versions 4.4 and up) to the Galaxy View via Bluetooth, turning the phone into a remote control. Users can turn the screen on and off, adjust the volume, select content and more, easily and directly their phone.

Once the Remote app is installed, it changes the phone’s screen into a familiar-looking remote control device, with volume up and down buttons, and four-way directional buttons, as well as a full keyboard when needed. With the Remote app, enjoying movies, TV shows and other content on the Galaxy View is easier than ever.

S Console Gamepad

Another major feature of the Galaxy View is its ability to be a platform for video games. The large screen and stereo speakers make it immersive and engaging. However, many games require complicated gamepads, with a great number of buttons and direction controllers, in order to be used properly.

The S Console Gamepad app can turn a Samsung smartphone into a gamepad, allowing users to enjoy console games in the mobile environment. S Console works for the Galaxy Note4, Note Edge and Note5 phones, as well as the Galaxy S6 series, connecting the smartphone to the Galaxy View by Bluetooth.

Optimized for more than 100 games, S Console supports six different types of gamepads, allowing users to pick the one that is best for each game. In addition to the Basic style default controller, some of the preset S Console options include Racing style for driving games, RPG style for first-person games and Console style for a maximum number of buttons and options. While most of those options are dark colored consoles, users can also choose white options, Casual style and Arcade style. Or, if someone prefers, there is an edit feature so they can create their own individualized gamepad.

Family Square

Another unique app for the Galaxy View, one that comes pre-installed, is Family Square. Family Square is like a dashboard for sharing photos and messages between family members on the Galaxy View—like a digital version of how families leave notes and drawings for each other on the refrigerator or counter.

But Family Square also has the ability to be paired to smartphones and mobile devices (any that use Android 4.4 and up), for added usefulness. Each member of the household registers their device for the Galaxy View, and then photos and other content can be sent directly from their devices for sharing on the View.

Those three apps, Family Square, Galaxy View Remote and S Console are making the Galaxy View even more useful for all members of the family, offering new ways to enjoy content around the home or while on the move.

You might find yourself perched precariously, sitting in a chair on the edge of a building in a post-apocalyptic cityscape as a murder of crows flocks around you. Later, you’re sitting on a rattling railroad, directly in the path of a speeding train.

This is the world of Gear VR, where it’s all about the wow factor, and bringing imagination to life.

First announced in September 2014, the Samsung Gear VR innovators editions, now available for the Galaxy Note 4 and S6 and S6 edge, have a gradually expanding list of apps and content that users can enjoy. But the Suwon, Korea-based team that works with content producers says they have only scratched the surface when it comes to the possibilities that the Gear VR presents.

“The first reaction when someone puts on the Gear VR is ‘Wow, I’ve never seen this before, it’s so real,’” says Weston Chirwa, a manager with the New Business Development Group at Samsung Electronics. “That’s the reaction we are going for with all the contents for the Gear VR.” Whether it’s under the sea amidst marine life, or sitting front row at Cirque du Soleil, or walking through  Korea’s historical heritage, Gear VR’s Oculus Store has a good selection of offerings that packs a heavy visual impact for the first-time user of the head-mounted display.

Chirwa, along with manager Helen Hyunjung Nam and assistant manager Dongmin Shin, spend a lot of time working together with producers, evaluating VR content and offering feedback on how to optimize content for the Gear VR. The goal is to create video and games that are immersive, visually stimulating, entertaining and comfortable for the user.

In partnership with Lionsgate, “Insurgent – Shatter Reality”, as described above, is a fully-immersive, 360-degree narrative experience set in the world of feature film The Divergent Series: Insurgent. In Shatter Reality, which puts the user through a series of mental “simulations,” the user can make eye contact with characters and experience two distinct, intensely gripping and realistic “fearscapes,” transporting them from the frightening heights of a crumbling Chicago skyscraper to the intimidating challenge of a massive, fast-approaching locomotive. In addition to their work with Lionsgate, Nam says Samsung has formed partnerships with other film studios including DreamWorks, FOX and Marvel, who are interested in making VR content. “Some want to provide existing movie contents through a VR application while others wants to create new content in VR,” she says.

After the Gear VR hit the market, interest from content producers skyrocketed. “There is great interest from content providers because it gives them another medium to avail their contents to viewers. We are seeing a good response with content providers. Most people want to be on board with Gear VR,” said Chirwa. “Gear VR brings out the creativity in content providers. It gives them the space to be creative. The viewer is able to see a 360-degree world, so developers can create contents that really wow the imagination. The potential is huge.”

When Chirwa, Nam and Shin are evaluating VR games and videos, two of their biggest considerations are level of immersion and the content’s likelihood to cause dizziness or motion sickness. “If the camera is moving fast, some people get dizzy. So we recommend producers to use small and slow movements. We also find that if objects are too far away in the 360 environment, it doesn’t feel like you are there in that environment. To feel like really being there, the camera needs to be very near the object.” Turning around and seeing a ghost or being suddenly confronted by barking dogs is especially startling in the Gear VR world, but these are creative devices that can make for an even more immersive experience.

“Another thing we are looking for is the quality of the stitching,” says Shin. “For 360-degree video, producers need to use several cameras and then the footage is all stitched together.” Shin adds that similar considerations are made for games. “Game developers really like to use first-person (instead of third-person). But we tell them that for an optimal experience, they need to reduce the speed of movements.”
Shin says one of the best games currently available for Gear VR is HeroBound. The game was created by Oculus CTO John Carmack, the man behind such popular games as Quake and Doom. “The game is well optimized for the Gear VR, he built it based on the capabilities of the hardware. I played it for the first time and I was impressed. It’s like playing a game on your desktop but it’s on the Gear VR.” Shin adds that he believes it is only a matter of time until big video game developers are creating Gear VR editions of their most popular games.

As fascinating as the Gear VR may be thus far, the possibilities for future applications are vast and varied. Some companies are already using virtual reality to market products. For example, major carmarkers like Audi and Lamborghini collaborated with Samsung to offer virtual reality test drives using the Gear VR. “It is going to move fast,” says Nam. “Before long, there will be 360-video cameras for consumers so if there’s a family birthday party, you can stream it to your relatives. We are only at a starting point, but we’ll have these sorts of environments later.”

Chirwa believes that Gear VR will take over the inflight entertainment experience, providing passengers with the chance for more privacy and isolation from the annoyances of other passengers. He adds that Gear VR will undoubtedly be a part of the Internet of Things revolution, with the capability of interacting with every other device in the house. The Gear VR has a see-through camera function which brings in the potential of augmented reality. There is potential to overlay information using the Gear VR, so you can look over at your refrigerator and see what is inside. “You are using the Gear VR but you’re interacting with the outside environment and you can overlay everything,” Chirwa says.

Thus far, the focus of most Gear VR content has been entertainment. But educational applications are possible as well. “We feel like the potential is there and future is very bright,” says Chirwa. “We are happy to be the first pioneers to be producing a product that is viable and above the competition in terms of what’s already on the market. The Samsung Gear VR has a 96-degree field of view. It is the best virtual reality product out there.”