After more than a decade of work and $40 million in funding, Virtuix is launching its Omni One virtual reality gaming system for home consumers today.
I was able to use the Omni One in a demo in San Francisco where I played multiple games wearing a Pico-based VR headset. It takes some getting used to running in place on a treadmill that can go in any direction. But once you learn it, you can really get immersed in a VR game and get a lot of exercise.
Founded in 2013 in Austin, Texas, Virtuix has been working on the Omni VR omni-directional treadmill technology for a long time. It started with a Kickstarter campaign and, after a lot of time, it shipped a system to Kickstarter backers in 2017. Virtuix also found some traction in various theme parks, shipping more than 3,500 Omni Pro systems to over 500 commercial locations. Then it started to focus on an updated system for the home, the Omni One.
And now it is finally taking the Omni One treadmill to home consumers with a device that costs $2,595 and has over 50 games that are tailored to the omni-directional gameplay experience.
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Origins
CEO Jan Goetgeluk’s dream was to enable people to walk or run in VR using their own legs rather than a not-so-intuitive game controller. With the system that Virtuix has created, you can get a lot closer to a full-body VR gaming system in your home than using a lot of other VR platforms.
The treadmill can keep you engaged because it has seamless tracking, allowing you to walk, run, crouch, kneel, jump, and strafe without boundaries in 360 degrees. Omni One is a complete solution with everything you need including the Omni One treadmill, a standalone VR headset, and access to the Omni One game store.
The Omni One ecosystem is complete with a game store, which contains titles that have been optimized for seamless movement and compatibility. For a list of upcoming titles on Omni One, please visit omni.virtuix.com/games.
Goetgeluk believes that the Omni One’s focus on using your own legs is critical to healthy gaming. It promotes full-body activity that gets you burning calories and keeps you off the couch or the desk chair.
The full system
Omni One is a complete entertainment system, including the Omni One treadmill, a standalone and customized Pico 4 Enterprise VR headset, and it has access to the Omni One game store.
The customized Pico 4E VR headset offers a superior display, seamless connectivity, and a lightweight, comfortable design, Goetgeluk said. The Omni One supports a PC connection that enables you to play games through SteamVR, expanding your gaming options.
Goetgeluk believes the company has delivered a compact footprint. The Omni One treadmill has a four-feet diameter design with hassle-free assembly and disassembly (no tools needed), and built-in wheels for easy relocation. It weighs about 150 pounds, which isn’t all that light, but you can roll it around on wheels in its partially disassembled form. Goetgeluk said it takes about two minutes to assemble.
The Pico headset comes with a Qualcomm XR2 CPU with eight cores running 64-bit code at 2.84GHz. It has eight gigabytes of DDR5 RAM running at 6400MHz. The headset can store 256 gigabytes, and the resolution is 2160 x 2160 per eye, 1200 PPI. The headset optics have a 105-degree field of view with pancake lenses. The battery life lasts a couple of hours, with 5300 mAh capacity.
The hand controllers have 20 sensors, and they have six degrees of freedom and haptics. The headset has eye and face tracking as well as controller tracking. It has interaction inside-out tracking and full-color passthrough.
The adjustable support vest and sturdy aluminum arm enable you to navigate virtual realms with confidence, free from the risk of bumping into walls, or colliding with others, which is a risk if you’ve ever been to a VR-based location-based entertainment venue.
And the optional Omni Online premium subscription elevates your gaming experience with benefits like free games, online multiplayer, cloud game saving, customizable profiles, and access to exclusive member events.
Size limitations
If you want a game system for under $500, this isn’t for you. It also supports users who weigh less than 250 pounds. And the height limits range from four feet four inches to six feet four inches tall. The vest fits players with up to a 46-inch waist.
You have to have a decent sense of balance in order to run on the treadmill. You can adjust the sensitivity and friction level of the treadmill, and that can make the difference between falling or running smoothly. I actually fell on my first attempt, and I needed some help getting back on my feet.
Getting Started
When you purchase the Omni One VR system, you receive an Omni One Treadmill, including the base, step, support arm, and vest. You have to assemble it, but it doesn’t look so hard to do. You get the VR headset, handheld controllers, overshoes to be worn on top of your shoes, foot-tracking sensors that attach to your overshoes to track your foot movements, and cables and chargers.
The headset includes a glasses spacer for comfortable use with eyeglasses. It has wrist straps for the controllers and an Omni One Cleaning Essentials Kit.
You need to set it up in an empty floor space that is at least 6 feet by 6 feet (2 meters by 2 meters). You have to ensure the area around the Omni One is clear of any obstacles, with at least three feet (a meter) of space on all sides. Then you can go to the iOS or Google Play store and download the Omni app to your mobile device. The app will walk you through the assembly of the base, arm and how to wear the vest.
You have to secure the vest onto the arm so that the arm can keep you from falling down. Then you power on the components and follow the directions for calibrating the play space with the proper virtual boundary. Then you put on the foot trackers. It is a lot of work to do, but if you’re spending money on this home device, you’re probably committed to getting it done.
Game variety
The Omni One game store contains more than 50 titles that have been adapted for movement on Omni One through close collaboration with the game’s developers, ensuring seamless and highly immersive gameplay.
This offers a straightforward, plug-and-play experience, and eliminates the need for users to spend hours tinkering with settings.
The game store offers a diverse selection of games, including action-packed adventures, immersive RPGs, challenging puzzles, high-energy sports, and family-friendly options, catering to every gaming preference. New games are published weekly, and Virtuix will continue to expand the Omni One experience with fresh titles post-launch.
Multiplayer combat
I played the multiplayer combat game Elite Force. It’s a first-person VR shooter that forces you to be a lot more physical than just holding a game controller. The game is a bit like Virtuix’s version of Counter-Strike in VR.
When I logged into Elite Force, I had to choose my weapon. I selected an SMG for short-range rapid-fire bursts. I had to get used to moving back and forth and turning around fast in the treadmill. It was a good workout as I almost immediately got sweaty in the headset. I had to learn to walk with the headset and treadmill first. I leaned forward a little and took a step forward.
To do so, I had to trust the arm holding up my body via the vest. I had to trust the system and keep my balance. I had to step and move by taking into account the resistance that my foot was facing. I had to lean into my steps. The overshoes help a bit. My toes were key to catching my footing and not sliding too much.
Once I got the movement down, I had to figure out how to aim. I tried this both with and without my glasses. Aiming is never that easy in VR. You can spray fire without aiming down the sights. That’s not always that accurate. And you can also aim down the sights but still have to guess exactly where the bullets are going to go and then adjust your fire. Still, I managed to get a fair amount of kills, even though it was a little awkward adjusting and trying to throw grenades. Anyone with skill could have taken me out easily as I did things like switch weapons or try to run in a particular direction.
I also got into a virtual tourism application dubbed TRex, which was still in development. The app took me to some pretty places in the world via a 360-degree camera. I was able to go through New York City and see some landmarks like a lifesize Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge and more. While walking, I felt like I was eight feet tall, as the camera was held fairly high in the walkthroughs.
Lastly, I was able to try a zombie experience where I had to either hack or shoot zombies as they chased me and a multiplayer partner down. The zombies came running fairly fast at me and I had to just keep firing, reloading and running around to get close to my partner.
After playing through one play session for 15 minutes or so, I rested a bit. Then I went back for a second session and got more accustomed to playing Elite Force. The demo team adjusted the height of the arm and lowered my center of gravity a bit. I squared off against two players again and I came in second place out of the three. In my second attempt, I didn’t fall again.
Elite Force has an ongoing community game night at 4 p.m. central time each Friday.
With dynamic game modes including deathmatch, team deathmatch, and capture-the-flag, Elite Force makes you feel more immersed in a battlefield experience. You have to load your weapons with physical hand gestures (lowering your guns and pulling them up again).
There are other titles like Peaky Blinders, a game set in 1928 where you have to turn to a crime boss to flee a firing squad. Then you are immersed in a hunt for Winston Churchill’s Red Box.
In Affected: The Manor, you have to walk through a haunted manor with a lot of jump scares. The family-friendly Ruinsmagus requires you to join a guild and engage in more than 25 story-driven quests where you solve puzzles and face guardians protecting ancient ruins. Then there’s the action-adventure game Hubris, which is set in a colorful sci-fi universe with a variety of movement options like swimming, climbing, and jumping.
Omni Online
Omni Online is an optional subscription service for Omni One that enables extra features at $14 per month. Those who do not wish to purchase Omni Online can still enjoy single player experiences. Each Omni One comes with a free 30-day trial of Omni Online.
The subscription gives players access to a collection of multiplayer games developed by Virtuix, including Dead Zone, Hyperblast, and Elite Force, all crafted to deliver shared gaming experiences. You can engage in multiplayer games, save your games to the cloud, craft a custom profile and unlock achievements, and support an unlimited number of user accounts on one subscription.
You can also participate in esports tournaments, community challenges, virtual meet-and-greets, and more.
I didn’t get sick while playing with the Omni One. The company says that the Omni One helps prevent nausea and motion sickness because you are moving your legs in a natural way and accelerate and lean in the direction you wish to move.
Walking on Omni One is a new sensation and may initially be challenging for some users, Virtuix said. The company recommends first ensuring that your hardware is set up optimally for your use. Additionally,
practicing walking without the headset can help you get accustomed to the movement.
As for connecting it to an Oculus Quest or PSVR2, Omni One does not support closed platforms like the Quest or PSVR2 directly. However, the company provides emulation software for PCVR games, enabling compatibility with any PCVR headsets.
You have to use the headset provided with the Omni One treadmill because Virtuix believes the complete
entertainment system offers a seamless, console-like, and more enjoyable experience. Omni One has an emulation software package that will enable you to play games in SteamVR. This experience isn’t for everyone however, as settings will need to be adjusted on a per game basis and many games will not offer a good locomotion experience.
Conclusion
I think the Omni One has met the bar in terms of providing an experience in VR that is unlike anything I’ve experienced before. It has to work on the quality of the game experiences and the visual fidelity, but the basics of gameplay and immersion are there. I was quite winded after playing two sessions back-to-back, and I think anyone who gets addicted to an experience will get healthy side benefits. It’s been a long time in the works and I congratulate them for getting this far. Now they have to keep investing and meeting player expectations. After all, we gamers are a pretty spoiled bunch.
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