PlayStation VR available from October 13

Sony's PlayStation 4-powered virtual reality headset – PlayStation VR – will be available from Australian retailers as of October 13 retailing for AUD$549.95. The headset has been available for pre-order since March, but Sony has only recently confirmed a specific release date.

Locally, JB Hi-Fi and EB Games will both range the headset. JB Hi-Fi has sold out of its initial pre-order allocation, but is taking reservations for a second shipment. On Facebook, EB Games said it has received extra stock for its initial allocation, but that it expects to sell out quickly.

PlayStation 4 owners will also need to pick up a PlayStation 4 camera to use the PlayStation VR headset. The camera is sold separately for AUD$89. Select PlayStation VR titles will require Sony's motion sensing Move controllers. A bundle with two controllers should be available before launch.

Sony is promising that over 50 PlayStation VR titles will be available before the end of the year. These include Batman: Arkham VR, an hour or so murder mystery; Rez Infinite, a virtual reality remake of the cult classic on-rails shooter; virtual reality X-Wing downloadable content for Star Wars Battlefront; and Gnog, a colourful puzzler from Double Fine. Looking further forward, the entirety of Resident Evil VII (available January 2017) will be playable as virtual reality experience. Trailers for these are viewable below.