The idea of IKEA meddling about with virtual reality isn’t really a shock. If you think about it, the technology works perfectly for architecture and interior decorating.
I guess I’m surprised because I didn’t expect to see IKEA listed on Steam any time soon. But late this afternoon, that’s precisely what happened.
It’s a free-to-play experience for the HTC Vive, with full support for the motion controllers and room-scale features. It’s supposedly similar to a kitchen in the company’s 2016 catalogue, although given that I threw my copy out weeks ago I’ve got bugger all idea which one it might be.
According to the Steam description, it’s a five minute long experience. IKEA is betting that virtual reality will “play a major role in the future of our customers”, which kind of makes sense. Think about the layout of an IKEA store. It gives you an idea of how things will look like in your own space, or how multiple items will fit together.
VR is a natural extension of that, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we started seeing trial headsets or VR terminals in IKEA branches in the next few years.
There’s even an email if you have any ideas you’d like IKEA to add to their next VR experience. Zero points if you start suggesting they build their own version of Capcom’s kitchen nightmare, though.
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4 responses to “IKEA Just Released A VR App On Steam For Free”
Well, it is kind of good to hear that there are now applications for VR, other than games and game design. This may even be enough of a justification to the Significant Other for getting the headset. Though beware of the consequences.
Achievements??
Achievement Unlocked!
“Grundviksondir” Assemble drawer unit while swearing less than fourty six times.
Unlocked by 0.05% of players.
Yup makes perfect sense to me. IKEA is actually a very progressive entity in many ways. Currently all their sets in the catalogue are done in Photoshop anyway. They don’t physically place the furniture and take a photo anymore.
Bonus round: soon the Swedish “meatballs” will be 3D printed and will be made of algae and mashed up insects. Much higher in protein.