Last year Oculus mentioned that it would be a co-publisher for the upcoming "EVE: Valkyrie" gaming title, together with CCP. Recent reports suggest that this might have been in connection to Oculus's plan to increase interest in the upcoming Rift virtual reality headset.

According to PC Magazine, Oculus announced that the Oculus Rift was primarily designed for the gaming industry. To celebrate its upcoming release, pre-orders of the VR headset will come with a free copy of "EVE: Valkyrie."

VR Focus reported that the bundle is the best way to market both products. "EVE: Valkyrie" is being hyped as one of the most anticipated virtual reality games, and the Oculus Rift is a VR accessory that is focused on virtual gaming.

Palmer Luckey, one of the Rift's main creators, said of the package, "It perfectly captures the promise of immersive gaming, shooting you into a sci-fi adventure as you pilot a spaceship in search of combat. Battling your friends (and enemies) in multiplayer space dogfights is the ultimate VR thrill, and we're excited to partner with CCP to bring this experience to Rift owners everywhere."

"EVE: Valkyrie" started out as a launch exclusive to the Oculus Rift, and the game itself was originally scheduled to come out last year. However, fine-tuning it for a true VR immersive experience pushed back the release date. Meanwhile, the exclusivity of the game title to the Rift also dissolved as "EVE: Valkyrie" will also be available on the PlayStation VR (the renamed Project Morpheus) once it comes out.

While Oculus has already announced a pre-order package for the Rift, there is still no confirmed date for when pre-orders will start. In addition, a specific release date for the VR headset remains unclear. Previous reports stated that the Oculus Rift will come out in the first quarter of next year.