Oculus and Best Buy close 200 demo units

Oculus Rift is one next month. I didn’t get it anything, but that’s okay, because even no gift is better than Best Buy’s: the hardware chain is shutting down 40% of its demo booths after demand to try the demo units has dwindled.

They are a couple of interesting side effects from this: firstly and most obviously, when Oculus installed demo stations at Best Buys through the U.S in May last year, many critics loudly called Oculus out for using the resources when they were struggling to fulfill pre-orders. Secondly, many workers in the VR industry have said that virtual reality is too tough a sell without getting people to try virtual reality for themselves and understand the appeal.

Roughly 200 of the 500 demonstration units are going to be closed-down, but Business Insider, who broke the story, said that demonstrative staff often went several days without giving a demonstration.

"We’re making some seasonal changes and prioritizing demos at hundreds of Best Buy locations in larger markets," an Oculus representative told Business Insider. "We still believe the best way to learn about VR is through a live demo. We’re going to find opportunities to do regular events and pop ups in retail locations and local communities throughout the year.”