As a counterpoint to the uninformed and myopic article from the BBC, here's an article interviewing Crytek Director of Production David Bowman:.
http://uploadvr.com/crytek-vr-push/
Also worth noting is that Crytek is working on what they call a 'AAA' game for VR - ROBINSON - The Journey. I recall in the BBC thread a few posters claiming that VR would need a AAA title to really take off... well, it's going to get them - they just won't hit immediately, because it takes time to make them.
*edit; added comment from below*
I do think 4 years is somewhat too optimistic... but if we interpret the statement charitably - you can read it as - in about 4 years, if you're not working on something with VR, and developing expertise in that area, you'll run a high risk of becoming irrelevant over the long term.
Given that big games take years to put out - if you're a big company like Nintendo, Sony, Bethesda, etc... and you don't have some part of your effort invested in that area - yeah I'd say that's very true.
I mean... to put it another way - I think by the next cycle of consoles - if they're not working with VR somehow, then they'll run a high chance of irrelevance in the succeeding years. Unfortunately, that seems to be the trajectory Nintendo is headed on given the sort of comments their brass are making.
Bowman, and the rest of the Crytek organization see VR as a vital component of the future. “It’s going to change the way we view entertainment,” he says, “[and] if you want to be relevant in four years in game development, you have to have a VR solution.” Which is why Crytek is hopping in with both feet into the deep end of the VR pool.
For Crytek and Bowman it is about championing the next generation of entertainment and continuing to push boundaries. “At Crytek we have always been pushing the limits of what we can do,” he says, “but VR excites us as a team in a way nothing else has before.”
http://uploadvr.com/crytek-vr-push/
Also worth noting is that Crytek is working on what they call a 'AAA' game for VR - ROBINSON - The Journey. I recall in the BBC thread a few posters claiming that VR would need a AAA title to really take off... well, it's going to get them - they just won't hit immediately, because it takes time to make them.
*edit; added comment from below*
I do think 4 years is somewhat too optimistic... but if we interpret the statement charitably - you can read it as - in about 4 years, if you're not working on something with VR, and developing expertise in that area, you'll run a high risk of becoming irrelevant over the long term.
Given that big games take years to put out - if you're a big company like Nintendo, Sony, Bethesda, etc... and you don't have some part of your effort invested in that area - yeah I'd say that's very true.
I mean... to put it another way - I think by the next cycle of consoles - if they're not working with VR somehow, then they'll run a high chance of irrelevance in the succeeding years. Unfortunately, that seems to be the trajectory Nintendo is headed on given the sort of comments their brass are making.