CHOOSE YOUR VR ADVENTURE

Whether you're looking for a roomscale VR headset or an all-in-one solution without the need for a PC, Louise Blain looks at three of the best options on the market now

META QUEST PRO

MUCH HAS BEEN said about Mark Zuckerberg’s reveal of the Meta Quest Pro at the most recent Meta Connect event. The concept of legs coming to the metaverse was talked about more than the headset itself, and we’re going to go out on an, er, limb here and say that the tech world wasn’t particularly surprised when it turned out Zuckerberg’s lower half had actually been motion captured. It all muddies the water around an exceptionally powerful device that demands clarity. The stylish $1,500 Meta Quest Pro is not a VR headset. This is an MR or mixed reality set of goggles. And that means there are some key differences to think about if you just want a gaming device.

The Meta Quest Pro has been designed specifically for mixed reality experiences. So where the majority of VR headsets go to great pains to eradicate even a glimpse of the outside world, the Quest Pro has been purposefully designed with gaps at the sides of the headset so you can see the outside world.

Combined with the color pass-through from the high-resolution front cameras, this is designed to give you a seamless mixed reality experience and make you feel like you’re truly interacting with a digital version of the real world. There will be an optional add-on for use with VR games but this is a clear indicator of what the headset is specifically designed for and the kind of experiences Meta wants you to have. Think design work and collaboration rather than zombie killing in The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners.