Today is a big day for VR motion enthusiasts. Just an hour after Roto VR introduced its $799 spinning game chair, Virtuix announced the highly anticipated launch date for its Omni One VR treadmill, set for September 10. This $2,595 system, excluding shipping costs, has been under development for over a decade, making this announcement a long-awaited milestone.
Last year on April 3, we shared an update with the headline, “A decade later, this VR treadmill is finally ready to ship.” It’s fascinating how technology can sometimes sprint ahead, yet other times feel like it’s crawling at a snail’s pace. Many hardware startups often seem to find themselves in the slow lane.
Despite the lengthy development process, Virtuix has garnered significant interest. The challenge of movement in VR is a tough nut to crack, as replicating motion when you’re stationary can lead to a less-than-ideal experience, often resulting in nausea for users.
Virtuix’s journey coincides with the growing excitement around mixed reality, spearheaded by big names like Oculus/Meta, HTC, and recently, Apple. Their efforts in securing around $40 million through venture capital and individual investment demonstrate the high stakes and promise of their product. Notably, the Omni One gained impressive attention when it was featured as a concept in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of “Ready Player One.”
The Omni One is ingeniously straightforward. Instead of using a conventional mechanical treadmill, it utilizes a passive mechanism. Users wear special footwear and simulate walking by sliding in place on a concave surface.
CEO Jan Goetgeluk expressed his enthusiasm in a statement, “With the official launch date set for September 10, we’re eager to welcome gamers into the Omni One community. The overwhelmingly positive reactions from our beta users have fueled our excitement, and we can’t wait to launch Omni One and transform the gaming experience for players of all ages.”
During the preorder phase, Virtuix managed to sell 3,000 units of the Omni One, signaling a promising start for this innovative VR gaming solution.
