Introduction
Virtual reality has recently grown in popularity in various fields, including video games. It provides an immersive experience that surpasses regular gaming, allowing players to feel like they're a part of the action. Let's look at the past, present, and future of virtual reality gaming.
Evolution of Virtual Reality Gaming
Virtual reality gaming has come a long way over the past few decades. Let's take a look at its evolution during that time.
Milestones of VR Gaming
Sensorama, widely considered the first VR device, was introduced in 1956. 12 years later, the first virtual reality gaming headset, The Sword of Damocles, was created.
In 1991, the technology expanded further as the first VR arcade system, Virtuality, was introduced. In the 90s, many popular video game companies attempted to enter the VR games market. However, consumer interest was lacking because the technology was not advanced enough.
In the early 2010s, personal VR headsets were finally released to consumers at affordable prices. 2015 brought further innovation when PICO VR, a worldwide leader in virtual reality gaming headsets and products, was founded.
Significant Innovations in VR Gaming
The Sword of Damocles was so large and so heavy that it had to be mounted to the ceiling, as the users' heads would not have been able to support its full weight. By contrast, a PICO VR system weighs 591 grams or less than 1.5 pounds.
Perhaps, the most important innovation was the introduction of mobility. Allowing users to receive games or other content wirelessly without using an attached cell phone or PC caused consumer interest to skyrocket. And, as computer graphics technology improved, so did the quality of images that these VR devices could display. This radically changed the entire VR industry.
Current State of Virtual Reality Gaming
Virtual reality gaming has massively grown in popularity over the past few years. According to Statista, the number of headset VR users has nearly tripled in the last six years, with 11 million Americans owning a VR headset in 2017 and 32.7 million users in 2023.
VR technology has also grown significantly in this period, with many new games in a wide variety of genres being released. These numbers are also expected to increase over the next few years, as VR games are more immersive and offer a different experience than traditional games.
Popular Games in PICO 4 Virtual Reality Gaming Headset
Although there are many fun and exciting games to play on the PICO 4 VR headset, let's take a look at a few of the most popular.
Chess Club
Chess Club is about far more than just the board game. Using hand tracking or touch controllers, players can enjoy a game of chess against AI, friends, or millions of fellow players around the world. It also features battle animations, three separate environments, and multiple timing options to play the game at the exact speed they prefer.
Showdown
Showdown is another popular PICO VR game that features a multiplayer dueling arena located in a futuristic world. Unlike other fighting games, it features a storyline mode that unlocks components as gamers progress through different levels. It also contains an online ranking system that allows users to compete online in real time against other players from around the world.
Warhammer 40,000 Battle Sister
Battle Sister is a VR-enabled entry set in the long-running Warhammer 40K franchise. Players can join the Battle Sisters, as they fight to save the galaxy from the forces of Chaos. It also features a multiplayer co-op mode, allowing users to fight alongside their friends to complete objectives and save the world. With 12 weapons and numerous powers to use in battle, players can enjoy a unique experience every time they play.
Moss
For VR players who enjoy single-player action-adventure games, Moss is an excellent entry into the genre. Alongside a mouse named Quill, the player must embark on an epic quest to solve puzzles, battle enemies, and save Quill's uncle from the ancient magic that threatens to destroy all that they hold dear.
The Walking Dead: S&S Chapter 2: Retribution
Fans of The Walking Dead TV series and graphic novels will love Saints and Sinners Chapter 2: Retribution. It introduces many new weapons, villains, and opportunities to explore the remains of New Orleans while fighting against Walkers. It also introduces a new faction, the Exiles, enemies of The Tower who refuse to join the Reclaimed. Will you help them and receive their rewards, or stop them and loot their resources?
Challenges and Future Developments in Virtual Reality Gaming
VR's massive growth in popularity have also revealed several challenges that the industry must address as the technology continues to improve. As the games are more immersive than their traditional counterparts, motion sickness is a common side effect of playing VR games. Hardware limitations are also an issue, as VR streaming requires massive resources that older devices can't handle.
However, as virtual reality technology improves, many of these issues will be resolved. Moviegoers will remember the 2008 film "Avatar", which was one of the first commercial films to be released in 3D. Some audience members reported experiencing headaches, nausea, dizziness, and other symptoms while watching the film in theaters during its initial release.
As 3D technology improved, audiences from more recent films have experienced significantly fewer issues. In the same way, VR will overcome these issues and VR headsets will continue their explosive growth in popularity. One day, they may even become as common as cell phones.
Future industry trends include combining the best parts of VR, Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR). This will make VR experiences even more immersive and eventually become part of everyday life, in the same way that radio and television were once considered revolutionary but are now thought of as commonplace.
Beyond Gaming: VR in Other Industries
VR has other uses far beyond gaming, such as allowing business partners to collaborate across borders and train new employees by allowing them to experience simulated work conditions.
It also has medical uses, allowing doctors to better explain diagnoses to patients and assisting in research for developing new treatments and medicines for a variety of conditions.
Another major use is as an educational tool. Instead of students in a history class listening to their teacher read facts from a textbook about the Battle of Agincourt, they can put on a headset and be transported through VR to the war itself.
Conclusion
VR gaming has come a long way over the past few years but as the technology is only going to improve, the medium will become even more exciting and will further live up to its full potential. To get in on the VR action, check out PICO 4 VR headsets today!