METATATION

Headspace XR is the mindfulness and meditation app for use with Meta Quest virtual reality headsets, but is it mind expanding or mind numbing?

- Joe Minihane

Headspace XR x Meta Quest £23 (for the app) / £199.99 (for Meta Quest 2), meta.​com

The creators of the popular mindfulness app Headspace have introduced Headspace XR, designed for virtual exploration of meditative realms via the Meta Quest VR headset. But with the substantial cost of the headset, does it offer more than existing mindfulness apps, YouTube channels, and traditional practices?

I’ve experienced anxiety for as long as I can remember and have used various tools to improve my mental wellbeing: swimming, running, lifting, medication, cutting back on alcohol and social media, and regular therapy sessions. Meditation has become essential for me too, guided by books, YouTube tutorials, and the original Headspace app. These methods taught me techniques I now use independently, often outdoors.

Curious about the new Headspace XR app, I tested it on the Meta Quest 3 headset. Headspace says this app targets younger Gen Z users, offering a ‘playground for your mind’, and aims to showcase the power of meditation and mindfulness while combating loneliness with a multiplayer feature. Meditation’s benefits are well-documented; a study in Nature highlighted its impact on self-awareness, attention, emotional regulation, and treating clinical disorders.