Kids 7+ can play in virtual reality this April.
Earlier this year, Nintendo revealed the Nintendo Labo: VR Kit, the fourth release in its Nintendo Labo line, which allows kids and adults to create controllers (called Toy-Con) out of cardboard, and use them to play games on special Switch software.
The first Nintendo Labo kits, the Variety Kit and Robot Kit, were released in April 2018. The Vehicle Kit launched in September 2018.
The Nintendo Labo: VR Kit will be released on April 12. It will let kids and parents create six new Toy-Con out of cardboard: a blaster, camera, bird, wind pedal, elephant, and VR goggles. When the kit was first announced, we didn’t know much about the actual games users would play with these Toy-Con (other than being able to fight aliens with the blaster and take pictures of underwater creatures with the camera).
However, we now know there will be “dozens” of experiences for players to enjoy using the kit’s basic virtual reality (VR) technology. Here’s a preview of some of them.
In addition to these games and experiences, players will be able to create their own games and more in Toy-Con Garage, a playground of sorts that lets players toy around with basic programming tools. The Toy-Con Garage mode was also included in other Nintendo Labo kits.
For the Nintendo Labo: VR Kit specifcally, a special Toy-Con Garage VR tool will allow players to create their own virtual reality games and experiences as well. Players can pull games from the VR Plaza into the Toy-Con Garage VR mode to see how they function, or even customize them.
While the content in Nintendo Labo: VR Kit is family-friendly, Nintendo said the virtual reality experiences should only be used by kids aged 7+. Parents can turn off the VR feature and let younger players use the kit’s Screen Holder, rather than the VR goggles, to enjoy the games in 2D.
Nintendo Labo: VR Kit will be available to purchase in two different versions.
The standard Nintendo Labo: VR Kit will be priced at $79.99, and it will include everything players need to create all six Toy-Con projects, as well as the Switch software. It will also include the Screen Holder and a Safety Cap.
The Nintendo Labo: VR Kit – Starter Set + Blaster will be available for $39.99. It will include the Switch software, Screen Holder, and Safety Cap, as well as the materials needed to create the goggles and blaster Toy-Con.
Those who purchase the Starter Set will have the option to purchase two Expansion Sets later on, if they want to see more of what the VR Kit has to offer. Expansion Set 1 will include the elephant and camera Toy-Con projects, while Expansion Set 2 will include the wind pedal and bird projects. Each Expansion Set will be available to purchase for $19.99 exclusively on Nintendo’s website.
Brandy Berthelson has been writing about video games and technology since 2006, with her work appearing on sites including AOL Games, Digital Spy, and Adweek. When she’s not gaming, Brandy enjoys crafting, baking, and traveling with her husband.