Revolutionizing VR Gaming: Nerf Guns as Controllers?

Hasbro's NERF guns are set to take on a new role as controllers for VR gaming systems, as evidenced by a recent patent filing. These toys have been a beloved staple since the 90s, with Hasbro releasing them in various iterations over the years. While they remain popular with young boys, enthusiasts have also taken to modifying them for improved performance and upgraded darts. Tie-in video games have also been developed, such as the first-person shooter NERF Legends, which was released in 2021 on multiple platforms including Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and Xbox.

To further expand their reach, Hasbro has been collaborating with other games to create customized NERF gun lines. For example, Minecraft has its own line of NERF guns, and Halo Infinite players can unlock an in-game skin by purchasing one of these blasters. With the advent of VR and AR gaming, the next logical step is to utilize these toys as controllers in these immersive spaces.

A recent patent filing at the United States Patent Office unveils a new video game attachment system that offers compatibility with traditional, AR, and Virtual Reality gaming. The attachment is designed to secure a screen onto a physical controller shaped like a toy gun. Additionally, a series of secondary attachments detect the movement and triggers of the toy gun being pulled through a registration device.

The patent aims to create a controller system that allows NERF gun and blaster toys to be compatible with various gaming systems, eliminating the need for specialized controllers. This will be achieved through the use of sensors attached to the toys, which can track their position for virtual reality or mobile games. The technology is not limited to first-person shooter games, as it can also be used for sports games, such as steering wheel control motions for racing/driving games, sports games that imitate a mallet or bat, or adventure games that replicate sword movements. While still in the speculative phase, this NERF related patent has the potential to revolutionize the way children play and interact with their toys and games.