So you've got a Quest 3 or 3S, or you're thinking about getting one, and you're wondering what it can really do? Gaming is definitely a primary use, but there's a whole world of experiences beyond just playing games. Here's a look at some of the best things you can do with your Quest VR headset.
Immersive Content Consumption
While wearing a headset might not be as comfortable as watching TV, there are situations where VR shines for content consumption.
Shared Viewing Experiences
One great use case is watching content with friends even when you're physically apart. VR offers a much more engaging and connected experience than traditional screen sharing on platforms like Discord or FaceTime. Being in the same virtual cinema or apartment together enhances the feeling of shared presence.
Entertainment On-the-Go
VR is fantastic for entertainment when you're away from home. This isn't about wandering around outdoors with your headset, but rather using it during travel, like on a plane or in a car. The immersion can be incredible.
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Consider enabling travel mode on your Quest to stabilize the UI during motion.
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A Quest is much easier to transport than a TV or monitor.
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The Quest 3's pancake lenses make watching full movies a comfortable experience, battery permitting.
Exploring Productivity with Virtual Monitors
The idea of using the Quest for productivity as virtual monitors is compelling. Imagine having a portable triple-monitor setup with your laptop.
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While the concept is amazing, the current execution, especially compared to Apple's Vision Pro integration, leaves something to be desired.
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Meta added a way to automatically connect to Windows PC as virtual monitors, which works great but only over Wi-Fi.
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The isolation provided by a virtual environment can be helpful for focusing on work. However, the limitations and bugs make it difficult to be truly productive. Screen resolution is also a limiting factor.
Fitness and Exercise in VR
Working out in VR is a surprisingly effective use case. Games like Beat Saber (on Expert or Expert+) and Thrill of the Fight can provide a real cardio workout.
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You have to invest yourself fully for it to be an effective workout.
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Be careful not to overdo it and risk injury.
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It's a physically intensive activity unlike the Wii with Wii sports or Xbox Kinect.
Tinkering and Customization
One of the joys of owning a Meta Quest is the ability to tinker with the technology.
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Meta consistently updates the headset with new features, like hand tracking and upper body tracking.
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You can dive into modding and add custom songs to games like Beat Saber.
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Game Quest Optimizer allows you to experience games in much higher resolutions.
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The GDScript game engine, Godot Engine, is available on quest which allows you to develop your own games on the headset without a PC.
PCVR: Unleashing Raw Power
PCVR involves connecting your headset to a powerful gaming PC, which handles the game rendering and sends the output to the headset.
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PCVR offers significantly more visual fidelity and overall possibilities than standalone Quest games.
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However, PCVR can be frustrating due to technical issues and user-unfriendliness.
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When it works, it's an amazing experience. Half-Life: Alyx is an example of the visual fidelity possible with PCVR.
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Racing sims like Assetto Corsa or iRacing bring a new level of immersion to the genre, letting you feel like you're in the cockpit.
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If you have a powerful PC, PCVR is worth exploring, but be prepared for setup challenges. However, the immersive experience often outweighs the downsides.