PlayStation VR launching this fall - GameStop CEO

It looks like PlayStation VR will trail the competition to market. In an interview with Fox News this week, GameStop CEO Paul Raines narrowed the release window on the console maker's entry into virtual reality.

"It's a big launch," Raines said. "We're getting ready for it. We will launch the Sony product this fall, and we are in discussions with the other two players."

So far, Sony has only said it will launch PlayStation VR sometime this year. A fall release would have it lagging behind the high-profile launches of two other major VR headsets, Oculus Rift (with a launch scheduled for March 28) and HTC Vive (debuting in April). Regardless of when the headsets launch or which ones prove to be the most successful, Raines said GameStop has plenty of advantages that should help it "dominate" the market.

Google is exploring wireless charging for self-driving cars

IEEE Spectrum found two FCC filings about Google's foray into resonant magnetic induction.

Self-driving cars are poised to be an incredible tool of the future, but they won't be much use if they can't hold a charge. It looks like Google wants to solve this problem via resonant magnetic induction, a form of wireless charging that could use manhole-style transmitters embedded in pavement to juice up driverless vehicles, IEEE Spectrum reports.


The outlet spotted documents that Google filed with the Federal Communications Commission outlining its work with Hevo Power and Momentum Dynamics. These companies were cleared to install experimental chargers at Google's headquarters in Mountain View, California, and in its nearby Castle facility used to test self-driving cars.

The idea is that self-driving vehicles would hover over a charging pad for a few minutes to power up, or pass over a series of transmitters as the car is in motion, scoring a nearly constant charge.

Wireless charging solves a few problems for the makers of self-driving people-movers. An efficient system would allow Google and other manufacturers to use smaller, lighter batteries than the ones in current electric vehicles, slashing the cars' overall price. Plus, accessible wireless charging removes a barrier to traveling for children, the elderly and people with certain disabilities, IEEE notes.

PlayStation Essentials Sale: Up to 75% Off Must-Have Games

Wow UP to 80% off with PS Plus and 75% off for those who doesn’t have PS plus, check this games and movies. If you have enough money you can fill your HDD or just get a bigger one, because this is madness. But hey, open your eyes, this offer ends 1/18.

Complete list of offer: Playstation Essentials Sale up to 75 off must have games

Steam hosted $3.5 billion in paid game sales last year

SteamSpy also noted a declining rate of new releases across 2015

Steam was the venue for more than $3.5 billion in paid game sales, according to an analysis of 2015 from SteamSpy's Sergey Galyonkin.

SteamSpy's methods are based on games activated on Steam, so a portion of that $3.5 billion came from products purchased from other sources. However, while Valve may not earn revenue from every cent, Steam is still the hub for that much business. It is also limited to paid sales, so it excludes money that flows through Steam's growing crop of free-to-play games.

PS4 sales nearing 36 million

Sony added 5.7 million systems to installed base over the last six weeks of 2015

Sony refreshed its PlayStation 4 sales figures today, putting the system's worldwide installed user base at 35.9 million.

Oculus Rift priced $600, ships in March

The much anticipated VR headset finally has a retail price.

With the pre-order program officially now open, Oculus has revealed its price of $599.99 for the Rift headset. The package, expected to ship in March, includes the VR headset, sensor, Oculus Remote, cables, Xbox One Controller, EVE: Valkyrie, and Lucky's Tale.

Speculation around Rift's price point has circulated for months. A $600 price tag is likely a surprise to many, but Oculus founder Palmer Luckey did state last October that the price would come in higher than $350. "I would say I think people are going to be happy with what they get for the price because I really do think it's going to be that best VR headset you can buy," Luckey said at the time.

While it's true that the package includes two games and a controller, when you factor in the cost of a high-end PC gaming rig, VR becomes a very, very expensive proposition for most people. We'll be keeping an eye on reactions to this news.

Oculus is promising more than 100 titles available by the end of this year. Oculus Studios itself will be releasing over 20 games exclusively for the Rift this year, including Rockband VR by Harmonix, Edge of Nowhere by Insomniac, and The Climb by Crytek.

Windows 10 installed base tops 200 million

Windows 10 here, Windows 10 there, and it is everywhere.

This is exactly what Microsoft dreamed of, and it seems like the company is actively working to reach its One Billion goal by the end of 2017 or mid-2018.

Proudly announcing its first huge success, Microsoft reported that its newest Windows 10 operating system is now officially installed on more than 200 Million devices worldwide since its launch five months ago.

Windows 10 is the latest as well as the greatest operating system from Microsoft that took less than six months to hit 200 Million milestone.