Sony's new VR headset sets gamers' hearts on fire at ChinaJoy 2016

The enthusiasm of domestic virtual reality (VR) gamers has been set on fire since Sony presented more than twenty onsite experience booths to demonstrate its new gear-- the PlayStation VR (PS VR), at ChinaJoy 2016.

Twenty new games run on the company's VR platform, including the upcoming Final Fantasy XV, a well known action role-playing video game being developed and published by Square Enix, and all were on display during the exhibition.

The entertainment conglomerate announced on Wednesday that it will release the PS VR device in the Chinese mainland on Oct 13, with a price set from 2,999 yuan ($450).

The VR headset is available for pre-order at both online distribution channels as well as 22 of Sony's brick-and-mortar shops across the country from noon on Thursday.

"There will be 23 VR games, including seven by domestic developers, released once they gain approval from the nation's regulators," said Sony Interactive Entertainment (Shanghai) and Shanghai Oriental Pearl Solatube Culture Development Co.

Formerly codenamed Project Morpheus during development, the company first unveiled their VR gear to the world back in March 2014 at the US-based Game Developers Conference.

The 14th ChinaJoy Expo kicked off on Thursday at the Shanghai New International Expo Center.

Dozens of the country's VR enterprises and startups have gathered from the 28th to 31st, showcasing the latest products such as headsets and goggles while introducing gaming content to run on the platforms.

Topology Research Institute's estimate, Xinhua News Agencies noted that Sony will sell 6 million PS VR headsets this year, outperforming its rivals and securing a 67-percent market share.

"Worldwide shipments of VR hardware will skyrocket in 2016, with total volumes reaching 9.6 million units," estimated the IDC.

"Led by key products from Samsung, Sony, HTC, and Oculus, the category should generate hardware revenues of approximately $2.3 billion in 2016."

Tom Mainelli, vice president for Devices & Displays at IDC, said, "In 2016, the first major VR tethered HMDs from Oculus, HTC, and Sony should drive combined shipments of over 2 million units."