The idea of virtual reality is one that can intrigue even the most casual gamers out there. As time goes on, different platforms will only release more enticing and modified updates. The obvious forefront of the VR movement has been occupied by the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive. While they may lead the field for now, the largest consoles in the world are starting to make strides on opening their own lines. Will they succeed or will PC VR remain the dominant force amongst the VR gaming world?
PlayStation VR
After a few years of loss in the PlayStation era for Sony, they are looking for any way to make up ground in the coming years. This is why they released the consumer friendly version of their VR headset at GDC this past year. We are still waiting for the arrival of the actual headset, but there are many pro’s to it that make it an interest amongst many consumers. The sleek jet black design features a quick release and comfortable strap that can help you outlast long nights of VR ahead. Along with just the physical appearance of the system, it combats the Oculus in many different visual categories. The Oculus carries more pixels per eye which gives it a slightly crisper look, but the high refresh rates of the PS VR make it a worthy competitor.
XBOX VR
At E3 this past June, Microsoft announced a new platform that would hopefully hold VR capabilities. Project Scorpio is the new architecture behind the platform, and is claiming to hold a clearer experience than the coming launch of PlayStation’s new VR system. Microsoft is making the claim that Scorpio can deliver over 6 teraflops of processing power which will help force gamers transition into the latest gaming hardware’s. Although, there are some mixed messages regarding whether Scorpio will even hold VR capabilities. The head of the project stated they are a bit more focused on what gamers want out of console gaming and doesn’t necessarily see VR in that. So, we will just have to wait for the release of the new architecture sometime in 2017 to see whether VR makes a splash on the Microsoft scene.
Rift and Vive
The Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive have been the top dogs in the VR gaming world since its arrival over the past two years. Oculus Rift started as just a small Kickstarter that eventually was bought by Facebook back in 2014 for 2 billion dollars while the HTC Vive was created by two powerful companies, HTC and Steam. Between the two, the hardware on them is very similar. The substantial difference is between price and other details. The HTC Vive is a bit more advanced with its range of motion. It allows you to walk around the room and detect your movement and apply it to the gameplay while Oculus cannot. On the other hand, you pay a much heftier price for that range of motion. You can purchase an Oculus Rift for the price of $599 compared to the likes of the $799 HTC Vive.
The Differences
The obvious difference between PC and console VR is that console VR hasn’t hit the market yet. PC VR is the clear cut favorite in this match due to its availability and customization options. Carrying the ability to upgrade graphics cards with higher frames rates per second gives PC VR the evident edge in the gaming world. On the other hand, gaming consoles such as the XBOX and PlayStation have made consistent splashes with every system that they have ever released. This momentum may carry the new platforms to great success. The consensus is out on which platform will reign supreme once they are all released, but our bet is that PC VR’s gaming quality will trump the popularity of Sony and Microsoft’s latest creations.