Virtual reality is the use of computer technology to create a 3d environment. It is most commonly seen with the use of headsets (HMD), and to most people, it seems like a myth. However, there are numerous companies that develop VR headsets and explore them to their limits. Not only that, but it isn’t as expensive as you might think and is available to consumers worldwide.
Companies such as Valve, HTC and Facebook are among the most popular names in VR headset manufacturing. Recently, Facebook has changed the entire market with the release of the Oculus Quest 2. It dethroned the previous VR king, the Valve Index, all because of its value for money. The Quest’s £300 price tag compared to the Index’s £1000 price tag is much more reasonable and attractive to anyone looking to buy themselves a headset. Not only that, but the biggest features of the Quest 2 completely throw the Index into the trash. Firstly, it is wireless. With all VR headsets, it is required that you plug the headset into a VR gaming capable PC, which just isn’t enjoyable when playing games, as you can easily be tangled and ruin the immersiveness. Secondly, it is insanely powerful. The chip inside the headset may not compare to a standard gaming PC, but is comparable and always being pushed to its limits. Every week I find out something that the Quest 2 is capable of doing due to its extreme processing power.
However, you may ask yourself, what's the catch. It may not apply to a lot of people but to the people that it does, it can be extremely frustrating. The company that owns Oculus is Facebook, and they require you to have a Facebook account to use the device. Many people are in disagreement with Facebook's policies and its spreading of personal information, which is why this can be a deal-breaker. There have been cases where a banned Facebook account can cause your headset to be bricked and turned useless. People may not find this as an issue, which is great but it is sad to see that the worlds best VR headset is owned by one of the worst companies.
The future is going to be filled with virtual reality and I personally cannot wait. More people being open to VR will be great for gaming, leisure and socialising. We just need to wait for more leading companies to release some competition to the Quest 2 so that virtual reality can continue to move forward and take the right steps.
