PokerStars Introduces Virtual Reality Poker
The world’s largest poker site PokerStars has decided to combine both live and online poker in a brand new VR experience.
Always testing its limits PokerStars is at the top of poker innovation to make the game more compelling, accessible and interesting for both the old and new players. This time, they’ve come up with PokerStars VR which combines the best of live and online poker to create a brand new way of playing poker. This multiplayer game is currently in a closed beta with around one hundred invitees playing and testing the game using Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Steam.
“It was really amazing,” PokerStars Team Online Pro Jaime Staples said, shortly after having his first hands-on experience with PokerStars VR. “I’ve never tried VR, so, the first thing that I thought was it was super immersive. I was in this world. The other world didn’t exist anymore. That was really cool.”
PokerStars VR initially offers the No-limit Texas Hold’em version of poker. Free-to-play, authentic and immersive social poker game completely recreates the live poker environment. Players come together from all over the world, using avatars that interact around the game, pick outfits, socialize and chat as if they’re in the same room. Players handle chips and cards, study opponents, pick up tells, chat in real time just like in the real world. They can do all this while streaming shows or sport and virtually order drinks and food.
The product was first previewed at the biggest UK’s games event Euro Gamer in Birmingham, held last week. It was developed with Lucky VR, featuring intuitive controls for easy gameplay, voice command controls, integrated Twitch broadcasting, video streaming and social media integration on Oculus Rift for those who want to play and stream.
“With live poker, people love it because you’re at the table, you can look at people, try to read and socialize as well. You feel the chips, the cards. Then with online poker, you get all the strategy, the numbers, the mathematical aspect and the speed. All the games, 24/7. But bringing the two together is what players really want. That’s why we’re working with Lucky VR to build this, bringing the best of live poker and the best of online poker in one experience” said Manuel Bevand, the member of PokerStars Innovation team.
The official launch is set for the end of this year and poker world will be presented with something totally unique.
