Today we’re pleased to announce a partnership with Amazon, the world’s largest retailer, which leverages Road to VR’s expertise to educate and inform those buying VR systems for the first time.

Amazon’s Virtual Reality Hub page connects customers to the latest and greatest VR tech. Prominently featured in the Hub is a selection of introductory content from Road to VR designed to bring people up to speed on the new and exciting medium of VR.

“It is important that we arm customers with information to understand new technologies and we are doing just that with the VR store through features like buying guides, product videos, as well as editorial content like articles from Road to VR,” says Eric Swanson, Category Leader, Amazon Video Games. “This helps customers find and discover the products from our large selection that best meet their needs.”

While we at Road to VR have been diligently tracking VR technology and the industry since 2011, for many, VR is completely new; 2016 will be the first time they get to try modern VR technology, or perhaps even hear about it. With VR being so new and so different, it’s tough for new users to make educated purchases without learning some basics.

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Take Samsung’s Gear VR for instance: time and again we hear people say things like, “why should I spend $100 on Gear VR when there’s other smartphone headsets that look just like it for much less?” What appear to be similar products actually provide vastly different experiences. One is compatible with any modern smartphone while the other only works with with a certain subset of Samsung smartphones (and still that compatibility varies depending upon which version of the headset you’re looking at).

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See Also: HTC Vive Review – A Mesmerising VR Experience, if You Have the Space

And that’s why Amazon chose to bring Road to VR’s expert insight to their customers through the Virtual Reality Hub. The ongoing relationship between the companies aims to build consumer knowledge so that people can make informed purchases in this exciting and evolving field.

Beyond consumer-facing insights, Road to VR’s just-released 2016 Virtual Reality Industry Report, co-authored with Greenlight VR, takes a detailed look at the development of the VR industry and is designed to inform forward-looking strategic decisions.

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Ben is the world's most senior professional analyst solely dedicated to the XR industry, having founded Road to VR in 2011—a year before the Oculus Kickstarter sparked a resurgence that led to the modern XR landscape. He has authored more than 3,000 articles chronicling the evolution of the XR industry over more than a decade. With that unique perspective, Ben has been consistently recognized as one of the most influential voices in XR, giving keynotes and joining panel and podcast discussions at key industry events. He is a self-described "journalist and analyst, not evangelist."
  • VirtualBro

    Grats guys!

  • Congrats, Ben, well deserved.

  • cubehouse

    Great job guys! Always a reliable professional source of VR news. Keep it up :)

  • JoeD

    That page is fucked up. The Vive leads to nothing, the Merge leads to the PSVR.

    • Bryan Ischo

      Seconded. I have a feeling that the publishing process from roadtovr to Amazon screwed with the links somehow. Hard to believe that roadtovr would publish it like this intentionally.

      • benz145

        Amazon is actually managing their hub page while we are providing content and advising. We’ve reached out to them about the link issues, should be fixed shortly : ).

  • α-ray burst

    Congratulations, and thanks for being the best source of VR news in the world.

  • John Smith

    A big get. Congrats.

  • Jorge Curiel

    Congrats!

  • Congrats!

  • Tom VR

    Congratz RoadtoVR, and what a road it’s been!

  • Sel

    Well done! Now you’ve got access to an even greater number of people already trusting amazon. Go go Road to VR spread the word to the world even more!
    One question: is anybody still interested in omnidirectional treads? I read your blog everyday and no sight of them anymore?
    I think it’ll be vital if working correctly and don’t understand why we no longer hear about them.
    Katwalk? Looked amazing back then..
    Congrats again guys!!

  • Mageoftheyear

    THAT is some cool news. Well done RtVR team!

  • CURTROCK

    Congrats, R2VR! Good to see you branching out. Always the #1 source of VR news & info. What was once niche, is rapidly becoming mainstream. Good times!

  • Isn’t there an inherent danger in the media working closely with retailers to “educate” the public? It could affect your objectivity.

  • Mark Seymour

    Great news!

  • Razor

    Congratulations, and thanks for being the best source of VR news , This is just unreal !!! Uncle Herman Connie !!!!