Update: Oculus has announced that those who preorder the Galaxy S7 will also be able to download six Gear VR games for free in a package valued at $50. The specific games will vary by phone carrier, and we can't seem to find the specifics listed anywhere online, but the Oculus announcement post mentions EVE: Gunjack, Land’s End, and Anshar Wars 2 as part of the deal.

The free Gear VR offer is available with Galaxy S7 phones ordered through March 18. The device will be provided via a web form available starting on March 4.

Original story

With all the talk of the impending Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, it's easy to forget that the Samsung Gear VR already provides a consumer-grade virtual reality experience for a relatively low price and without the need for a pricey desktop PC. Samsung seems intent on not letting the tech world forget about its mobile VR solution, though, announcing at Mobile World Congress Sunday that pre-orders for its new flagship Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge phones will include a free Gear VR headset.

On the one hand, adding a useful $100/£100 accessory to these pre-orders seems like a good, synergistic way to generate interest in both virtual reality and in Samsung's new top-of-the-line phones, possibly pushing both to critical mass more quickly than they could unbundled. On the other hand, the fact that Samsung is willing to essentially give away a significant number of these $100 headsets suggests the Gear VR might not be selling as well as Samsung had hoped.

Business concerns aside, the pack-in deal is great for VR-curious consumers that are ready for a phone upgrade. Sure, the Gear VR might not have the head-tracking or hand-tracking capabilities of its PC-based counterparts. And the Galaxy phones can't really match the sheer pixel-pushing power of the GTX980 graphics cards needed to power tethered PC headsets.

Still, for a price starting at €700/$700 (right in between the price for the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive—and that's before any contract discounts), you can now get a brand new cell phone and a complete, wholly competent VR solution that doesn't require a significant added investment in bulky PC hardware. And let's not forget that Gear VR is completely mobile, meaning you can stick it in a satchel to show off to friends who don't want to trek down to the PC in your home office.

Pre-orders for the new Galaxy S7 phones will start on February 23 in the US and UK, ahead of shipments starting on March 11.