VR locomotion is a hard problem that has produced all sorts of interesting peripherals, from the Virtuix Omni treadmill to the 3DRudder footboard. There’s been a ceiling on success for these sorts of devices, owing to things like price, size and limited adoption of VR headsets.
London-based Roto VR is delivering its own solution to the problem of moving in VR in the form of a $799 spinning gaming chair. It’s the first of its kind to boast a “Made for Meta” seal of approval.
The system is designed to address issues around 360-degree viewing in the VR space. Roto also claims that the system helps address the very real (trust me) issue of virtual reality motion sickness. Presumably since the motion of the chair is synced with what your eyes see, you’re less likely to get the kind of nausea that stems from a brain-body disconnect.
The Roto VR Explorer looks like a fairly standard wheeled swivel chair, aside from the tiered back support and a massive base that looks a bit like a compass. In this case, the footrest serves as the needle. The system sports haptic feedback for an added sense of immersion, and Roto will be offering modular accessories to go with some of the 400-odd games the system is compatible with.
Roto was founded nearly a decade ago. Per the company’s LinkedIn page:
Founded in 2015 by UK based tech entrepreneur Elliott Myers, the team at Roto VR is composed of executive leaders in the field of gaming, technology and engineering, with decades of experience in the field. Roto VR is committed to innovating in the field of VR, elevating the experience through advanced and affordable technology designed to bring virtual worlds to life like never before.
The VR Explorer is up for preorder today, with an expected shipping window of October 2024.
