Are there any new VR headsets planned for 2020? (Purchase Now or Hold Off)
Are there any new VR headsets planned for 2020? (Purchase Now or Hold Off)
I'm not sure what to do. I'm really excited about starting in VR, but as everyone knows, those things aren't inexpensive. If I bought the Rift S now, I could use it for around two months before having to travel for about six months without being able to play. Are there any upcoming VR sets expected in 2020 that would make me think about waiting? (I haven't seen any from the main brands, maybe I missed something)
What's your overall advice? I'm just too excited and need a fresh perspective before making a decision and regretting it.
Current PC specs:
- i7-2600 (3.4Ghz Quad-core 8Threads)
- MSI GTX 1080 8GB Gaming OC X
(Most probably I'll upgrade the PC with a new CPU or MOBO when I return, but keep the GPU)
Not really, mostly just updates of what's already available, right now Steam VR stands out as the best option. VR is interesting but it comes with a lot of inconvenience—you need to consider carefully if you won’t eventually find yourself disappointed and losing money. Even outside of Half Life, the VR game selection remains quite narrow and might not impress you much. A GTX 1080 works well with some adjustments, but a locked i7 2600 won’t cut it... for VR you require at least a very stable 90fps, most are around 90hz—which is the minimum to prevent discomfort and similar issues. High refresh rates depend heavily on your CPU, so you’ll likely need to upgrade your current setup before deciding which VR system to purchase.
The only major launch that's plausible in 2020 would be the PSVR 2, as the PS5 is coming late 2020. But it's probably more likely the PSVR 2 will launch the following year.
For PC there isn't much on the table for 2020, maybe Pimax 8K but that's kinda niche and Pimax are notoriously unreliable.
One thing you could consider is getting an Oculus Quest. It can be used with a PC, but is mainly a standalone VR headset. So you could take that with you for those 6 months.
SteamVR is a software platform, not a VR headset.
You don't strictly need a stable 90FPS, with ASW you can have a comfortable experience while only really rendering 45FPS (or 40FPS with a Rift S).
Generally VR games are less CPU-dependent than non-VR games, but there are exceptions.
the valve number that was easily referenced rather than the minor point
Going from your reply, I think i might just pick one up now. Im aiming for the Rift S, because I've heard that its a pretty large difference between the quest and the rift s. And from what you're saying I don't expect something else to one-up it any time soon (In my price range). I just ran the VR-Ready test by steam and my pc should be "very ready" according to them, so I guess you're right and it should be fine. Thanks for your input!
I found a discussion about FPS and hardware limits in VR on Reddit, but there isn't recent empirical data available.
Benchmarking VR presents challenges. I can admit I didn't notice much subjective progress moving from a Core i5-3450 to a Ryzen 7 2700X, although that's a solid improvement in single-threaded tasks and even more significant in multithreaded scenarios, which isn't particularly important.
I'm considering upgrading my i7-7700K with an MSI GTX 1080 x2 SLI, even though SLI is outdated and offers no advantage in VR. I received a gift from work for the Oculus Rift in 2017. Playing on it, I'm eager to see if the Valve Index becomes the next real "Second Gen." However, current orders include a disclaimer stating they'll ship in February 2020 due to high demand, so I'm hoping for wireless support eventually. I'm not someone who pre-orders often. Thanks, Sakkura.