With the Meta Quest Pro VR headset now available to pre-order and boasting some impressive specs, time will tell if Virtual Reality enthusiasts will be able to look past the steep price tag in order to get their hands on yet another big advancement in standalone VR. Although they've been quickly securing a strong position in the VR market, many are still dubious about what Meta has to offer long-term.
That's not the only subject of debate that's been dividing VR fans either. From whether PCVR is worth the cost to if VR games need motion controls, many took to Reddit to share their hottest takes and unpopular opinions regarding the exciting technology.
There's No Shortage Of VR Games
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Whilst the idea that VR has a lack of good games is an old-fashioned one that's shared by fewer VR fans these days, there's a sense that many are still waiting for the selection to expand more fully in the coming years. Redditor QuinSanguine argues that, even now, "VR has plenty of games," and points to what's on offer for Oculus and PlayStation as well as SteamVR's huge library.
Since triple-A releases are a lot rarer, VR games rarely get a huge fanfare surrounding their release aside from a few notable exceptions. As a result, users generally have to search for games that interest them on their own to unlock the huge quantity and variety of VR games already available today.
Standalone VR Headsets Will Never Be Taken Seriously
As companies like Meta and Pico continue to push forward with standalone VR technology, making it more affordable and allowing the user to do far more with their VR headset, it's easy to feel like the technology is heading sharply in that direction. Not everyone agrees that standalone headsets are the future, however.
Redditor NewAccount971 thinks that "standalone devices will be relegated to being children's toys and will never be taken seriously," in contrast to PCVR. The higher accessibility granted by standalone headsets also means they're more child-friendly but some would argue this is only a plus to a device with far broader appeal than its expensive counterpart.
Games Don't Need Smooth Locomotion
Being able to move smoothly from one spot to another has been the norm in gaming for a long time so it's no surprise that not everyone is keen on playing VR games where the only means of transport is instantly teleporting. Redditor jrsedwick thinks it's not necessarily a bad thing, though.
According to them, "a dev should be able to make the game they want and [...] more options does not always make it better." Others pointed to the immersive VR shooterIn Death: Unchained as an example to support this as the game had smooth locomotion awkwardly added despite the gameplay being built around teleportation. Purists may still argue in favor of free movement, however.
Shadow PC And Other Cloud Gaming Tools For VR Are Disappointing
In theory, the promise of Shadow PC and other cloud-based PCs to put the power of a gaming rig capable of running the most high-end VR titles in the hands of anyone who owns a suitable headset is incredibly impressive. However, Redditor screenslaver5963 isn't impressed and says they're "sick of hearing about them."
They explain that latency when playing is simply "too high unless you live in the server room." With Google announcing it was closing down Stadia last month, cloud gaming has taken some big hits recently, and, until the latency issue is dealt with, it seems unlikely that services like Shadow PC will find a lot of success at least in the world of VR.
VR Games Don't Always Need Motion Controls
For some, being able to interact with a VR environment with the same kinds of motions and gestures they use in the real world is part of the immersive experience that it just isn't worth doing without. For others, like Redditor Diocletion-Jones, it's not such a big deal at all.
In their opinion, "A first-person VR experience doesn't always need full motion hand tracking mechanics." For some gamers, the idea of using a controller for movement is so ingrained that it's no less immersive than the motion-controlled alternative. Considering it may also be far easier to implement for a lot of VR games, there are some obvious advantages to sticking to what works.
VR Means Controllers Can Be Simplified
Aside from small innovations, gaming controllers have stayed largely the same in terms of the number of buttons/thumbsticks, types of buttons, and roughly where they're placed for a couple of decades now. Redditor ArthAnsgar's hot take is that VR doesn't need such complicated controllers.
According to them, "many of the functions performed by controller (or kbm) inputs can be covered by motion tracking." Aside from basic elements like movement and menus, motion tracking can do a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of how the player interacts with a game, allowing for the possibility of a more stripped-back gaming controller to match.
PCVR Isn't Worth The Cost
Some of the best VR games of recent years have required a PC to play them and, looking at the sheer number of titles available on services like SteamVR, it's easy to assume that PCVR is a great deal despite the comparatively high costs. Redditor GoooD1 is willing to go against the grain and argue that "PCVR doesn't seem worth it," however.
They explain that "most PCVR title seems like a glorified mobile game" to them and point out that there is often a vast difference in scale and ambition between PC games and mobile games that is far less noticeable when it comes to VR. Considering the cost of a high-end gaming rig, it's not surprising some gamers want to see the potential of VR developed a lot more before making the investment.
VR Games Shouldn't Ever Have Lens Flare
For a simple lighting effect, lens flare is a topic that some feel very strongly about whether it's the over-use in action movies or the fact it's an effect that gets used at all in video games. Redditor VonHagenstein comments "I don't see lens flares with my eyes in the real world. I don't want to see them and have my immersion and sense of presence destroyed by them in VR."
Considering how good modern VR technology is at limiting visual disruption, there is something strange about adding a disruptive lighting effect directly into the action. On the other hand, lens flares can give even simple scenes a cinematic feel by mimicking the impression given by a movie camera. For some, that extra sense of spectacle could help elevate an already engrossing experience.
VR Devs Need To Consider Accessibility
Optimists about the technology often talk about how much freedom Virtual Reality can bring to its users with not just a new way to experience games but also ways to gain new experiences such as traveling the world with just a headset. With that in mind, Redditor Paksarra thinks that developers need to "keep accessibility needs in mind."
They explain that "VR opens all sorts of experiences to people who might otherwise be unable to experience them" but that requiring certain kinds of movement that not everyone can do easily might risk excluding those same people. It's less of an unpopular opinion, more of one that doesn't occur to everyone, and some fans just want to see more VR games and apps without taking this into consideration. But others feel there is a need to think hard about who will be able to use them as well.
Meta's VR Gamble Will Pay Off
Though a ton of bad press and their divisive decision to focus so much of their efforts towards a Metaverse that a lot of users are skeptical of has given Meta a poor reputation in recent years, many VR enthusiasts have a warmer image of the company thanks to their efforts to make VR more affordable.
Redditor WideSmilesAbound comments that their "hottest take is that Meta is going to wildly succeed building the metaverse." Whilst many think Meta picked a poor time to invest so heavily, it could be that the gamble pays off in a big way as the technology develops in the coming years.
Source:gamerant.com