VR motion sickness may soon be a thing of the past during VR gaming.
VR hardware developer Virtuix recently announced it would soon release its much-awaited Omni One VR treadmill to the general public once it acquires enough funding.
The company has yet to give a specific date as it just started looking for funding, though it believes it could happen later in 2023.
Virtuix Omni One VR Treadmill Details
Virtuix mentioned that it is kickstarting another round of funding, which will finance the manufacturing of its Omni One VR treadmill for public release later in 2023, per Engadget.
The company previously released units of the Omni One to its Kickstarter backers in 2021, while the treadmill itself is in development since 2020. However, it is only now that Virtuix is making Omni One CR treadmill units that the public can purchase and use at home.
According to the treadmill's webpage, Virtuix's Omni One CR treadmill is a smaller version of the Omni Pro VR treadmills commonly used in entertainment venues worldwide. The Omni Pro VR treadmill is a larger but similar version of the Omni One VR treadmill in that it allows VR gamers to move around in-game.
By contrast, the Omni One VR is a circular treadmill 4 feet in diameter designed to fit in VR gamers' living rooms while offering the same features as the Omni Pro, but on a smaller scale. Regardless, the Omni One VR treadmill offers VR gamers "unmatched freedom of movement, including crouching and jumping, allowing VR gamers to burn calories while gaming.
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The treadmill allows VR gamers to walk, run, crouch, kneel, jump, strafe, and walk backward in various VR games. Gamers wouldn't need to worry about going outside the treadmill, thanks to its arm that tethers them in the treadmill's center.
The treadmill has a Pico Neo 3 Pro VR headset that already supports more than 30 VR games once it launches. It is also self-contained, as it doesn't need any PC or additional cables to work.
Virtuix stated that the Omni One would retail starting at $2,595 plus shipping for the treadmill and the Pico Neo 3 VR headset. While the price is slightly higher than the company's initial projection of $1995, investors get a 30% off the listed price.
The Problem With VR Motion Sickness
Virtuix's Omni One VR treadmill is a godsend for VR gamers as it may help solve the issue called "VR motion sickness," or motion sickness caused by the impression of moving around and teleporting inside the metaverse being the opposite of what they're doing in real life - standing still or sitting down while playing the VR game of their choice.
According to POC Network, teleporting is a better option than animating legs that move while VR gamers are standing in place, as it reduces the likeliness or severity of motion sickness.
With Virtuix's Omni One VR treadmill, it could bridge the gap between what a VR gamer is doing in real life and what they're doing in-game, preventing them from experiencing the effects of VR motion sickness, such as dizziness and nausea, per the CDC.
Related Article: VR Motion Sickness: What It Is and How To Deal With It
