My First Impressions of The Next Generation Virtual Reality Hardware Showcased at GDC 2019
While at the Games Developer Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, I got a first-hand look at the next-generation of virtual reality hardware. Here are my first impressions.
Quest
The new Oculus Quest is a great piece of new hardware that Oculus revealed at GDC. Oculus Quest is the first all-in-one gaming system built for virtual reality. All you need to enjoy it is a VR headset and controllers. No gaming laptop required.
I enjoyed using the Quest at GDC. Since this is a standalone VR rig, there was concern about its computing power. But, computing power is better than expected. Developers will be able to build a high-quality experience. Also, the company has really gotten tracking down on this rig.
What’s more, there is no set up required. That’s really important, especially for the virality of virtual reality. This rig is more portable, more accessible, and can be set up on the go.
There is no need to worry about wires, too. That’s going to be big for onboarding non-VR people; that is, the people who simply want to try a new piece of technology. This will help bring people into the industry.
Rift S
The new Rift S, developed in partnership with Lenovo, is set to launch in Spring 2019. This model seems higher resolution than past Oculus models. It feels about the same on the head in terms of comfort and accessibility, with the same ergonomics of the old controller.
Oculus moved the sensors to a new inside out model, where camera sensors are built on the headset looking out into the world. This is a big step. You don’t have to worry about knocking the camera over or setting things up.
This rift is high resolution, and the controllers still feel good. Rift remains my preference.
Overall, Oculus won the show for me.
HP
The new 4K headset from HP seems pretty cool. This next-generation Windows VR headset is similar to Rift S in terms of comfort and quality of the headset. The Rift has one more camera than the HP model, and the cameras on the Rift are positioned slightly different than on HP’s model.
My biggest complaint about the HP model is its controllers. They are the same as old windows Mixed Reality controllers, and those are not ergonomic. I don’t think this is the best rig you can buy on the market right now.
I would still lean towards the Rift S over HP, though I believe they have about the same perceived resolution. For me, the controllers are a real dealbreaker with the HP product.
While the Rift controllers feel good, the windows Mixed Reality controllers just don’t feel too great. That’s the biggest difference between Rift S and HP headset.
Vive Focus Plus
I tried the Vive Focus Plus controllers, too. They were okay. It’s about what you would expect from a mobile standalone version. Much more ergonomic than before, to be sure. Plus, it tracked the controllers, which is good. And that we have another VR manufacturer is positive for the industry.
The Quest controllers are more ergonomic than Vive Focus Plus, though. And it doesn’t help that this headset is twice the price of Rift S. It’s important to note, however, that the Vive Focus Plus is designed for use in enterprise settings, while the Oculus Quest is more focused on games.
Virtual Reality in 2019
Until now, new VR users have been scared off by the fact that they need to buy a $2,000 gaming laptop. Now, the industry seems to be going after a market of non-gaming PC owners with the Quest. And, so, you can really expect for new people that haven’t been into VR traditionally to enter the space.
It will be positive for people working with enterprise users that expect a higher resolution headset. That’s also here. So, there is positive momentum for the industry. New consumer adoption is always great, and I know the new models will make our enterprise customers happy.
Moving forward, a lot of the VR haters that complain about resolution, ergonomics and minor details will disappear. We will see a lot less negativity in the VR industry.
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