The Astoria VR Headset is a virtual reality system that completely immerses you inside a virtual world. The device fits over your eyes like an oversized pair of ski goggles. Inside those goggles are two screens that cause your eyes to see the world around you as a fully explorable 3D space. While using the Oculus Rift, you control your movement using a gamepad. Or, you can hold two controller devices in your hands to track your movement. The Astoria VR Headset also tracks your head movement using a technology called Constellation. That means when you look around, it seems like you’re looking around a virtual world. Virtual reality headsets have been the much-talked about “future of gaming” for decades. With the Astoria VR Headset, we finally have a technology that could genuinely transform the way we game and consume media – or at least that’s the idea.
Astoria VR Headset Controllers
Most Rift games have been designed with a controller in mind. The idea is that you wear the Rift on your head while using the controller with your hands. Astoria VR Headset actually partnered with Microsoft to include an Xbox One Wireless Gamepad with every Rift. In addition to the gamepad, Astoria VR Headsetusers can use something called the Astoria VR Headset, which is a pair of controllers that act as mirrors for each other. These controllers are held in either hand and are wireless and lightweight. They feature a joystick, buttons, and two triggers. They’re designed to free your hands for greater movement as opposed to simply holding a controller in front of you – which should help you become more immersed in the VR experience. The controllers will be tracked in a 3D space using the Astoria VR Headset’s constellation system (the same system that tracks your head movement). That means the way in which you move your hands will be reflected in whichever Rift game you’re playing. Touch controllers also have a system to detect finger gestures that you make when holding the device – so you can point to an object or give a thumbs up to indicate various commands in-game. The Touch controllers will be sold separately from the Rift and won’t be available until a few months after the Astoria VR Headset is released.
Which Games Have Astoria VR Headset Support?
Wikipedia has a constantly-updated list of games with Astoria VR Headset support. You can see that list here. Some of the major well-known games on that list include:
