Japan-based games site operator DeNA plans to make up to four investments in virtual reality companies within the next eight months, Tech in Asia reported on Thursday.
James Riney, principal at DeNA’s corporate venturing unit, Strategic Investment Office, told Tech in Asia that the investments will likely consist of three seed-stage deals and potentially a growth-stage investment as well.
DeNA itself will also make its first moves into that sector, and intends to release a VR game later in 2015 exclusively for the Samsung Gear and Samsung Galaxy Note 4.
Strategic Investment Office invested in 30 companies in 2014, including Kamcord, which allows players to record their gameplay, Any+Times, which enables people to crowdsource solutions to everyday problems, and fish delivery service Hachimenroppi.
Virtual reality has also become a growth sector in the past year, with virtual reality headset developer Oculus VR being acquired by Facebook for $2bn and Magic Leap raising up to $500m in October.
Riney said: “Virtual reality is a long term investment, no doubt. But because we do not invest out of a fund, we can make these kind of bold long-term bets. We have no idea how far virtual reality could go, but we would like to meet entrepreneurs with wild imaginations.”