Virtual reality (VR) gaming is an entertainment platform for gamers that allows them to feel as if they are within the gaming environment instead of simply watching on a screen. For that, special pieces of equipment are required, which allow interactions that mimic real-life ones. At the inception of VR gaming, everyone felt that it was going to be the next big thing.

Facebook Technologies jumped on the train very early and since its inception in 2012, they have worked hard on their Oculus VR and are now considered industry-leading. Later in 2020, we will get to see VR on the Facebook platform, with the release of Horizon. And with its enormous user base, being added to the general Facebook platform VR will take a giant step into everybody’s lives.

VR in Online Casinos

Online casinos were some of the first to see how important VR will be in future gaming and gambling alike and have spent unknown amounts to incorporate VR in their offerings in recent years. The VR casinos are offering a completely different experience to what many players are used to. Players get to enjoy immersive and interactive experiences while playing their favorite casino games, with which the old gaming technology cannot compete.

VR casinos offer include realistic slot machines, in-game chats, real casino sounds, ability to display body and hand gestures, 3D table games, and 3D detailed casino game rooms, among others. However, you should note that not all casinos offer VR games and you may have to do some research to find a casino that delivers the fully immersive VR experience.

An online VR casino allows you to feel the casino atmosphere and can prove invaluable to the live casinos that already exist. The challenge for online casinos is the expensive gear needed to play and research and development are being done to mitigate this.

Where are we now?

VR gaming first felt like a future thing that had come before its time. There are major developments in VR gaming happening, but not many players have ventured into it yet. Here are some of the reasons why VR has got off to a slow start.

Cost of Equipment

Among the top reasons why VR gaming is not as popular as expected is the high cost of equipment. Players need to invest quite a significant amount to experience all that VR gaming has to offer. There are cheaper pieces of equipment for VR gaming, but they do not provide an experience that is anywhere near as good as the high-quality equipment.

Number of Games

One of the things that gamers love is a variety of games. Being able to access more games means that there are fewer chances of a player getting bored with a gaming platform. VR is still relatively new and offers a limited number of games that players can access. That makes most players shy off from investing in expensive equipment for fear of getting bored too soon. Developing fully immersive VR games

Software Size

VR software is significantly larger compared to that of other games. This is understandable given that VR devices require more work to offer an immersive experience. Bigger software means that players need more processing power and storage space to enjoy the games. The amount of storage and processing power for a truly immersive experience is something that not many gamers can access, leading to less popularity.

Personal Preferences

Most VR games aim to make everything appear as close to reality as possible. For some, that might be a good thing, but other people have a problem with that. For example, a game that involves movement might make a player feel nauseated because of motion sickness, even though there is no actual motion involved.

Physical Risks Involved

VR games are associated with a number of physical risks, which players tend to avoid. For example, the experience might feel too real that the player reacts physically in a way that will result in injury. The player might also damage surrounding items, including the expensive VR gaming equipment. These risks are just not worth it for some people.

Graphical Limitations

VR gaming is still relatively new compared to other gaming platforms. For that reason, it is understandable that the VR games yet do not have graphics that are even nearly as good as for other consoles. However, gamers tend to choose graphics over other things, which is why VR games are not as popular.

Examples of VR Games

There are specific VR games that stand out, which can probably make your investment in VR equipment worthwhile. That is based on the reviews and feedbacks of other VR gamers. A few examples are highlighted below.

Iron Man VR – Release Date 3 July 2020

Marvel is one of the biggest names in entertainment, and when they take the step into the world of VR it is only logic that they start with the Iron Man himself. Published by Sony Interactive Entertainment and available for PlayStation VR, this game offers you a chance to BE Iron Man. It is a thrilling way to experience advanced combat with a character that is more than familiar to many, Tony Stark. It makes you get the feeling of being part of the Avengers as you handle a variety of tasks and challenges. For example, you have to use your flying and combat skills to accomplish specified missions, all of which will be part of the game’s storyline. The game release was postponed due to the pandemic, but it is scheduled for release on July 3rd 2020.

Half-Life: Alyx

In Half-Life:Alyx, your mission is described like this:

You are Alyx Vance, and you’re about to spark a revolution

Released in March 2020, and available on Microsoft Windows Linux, this is a First-person shooter game which takes you back to the old half-life game, but in a very different way. You get to take Alyx Vance’s place instead of Gordon Freeman and advance through City 17 before getting to the Unlucky Physicist. All that entails engaging in intense shootouts with various alien enemies and soldiers while you solve puzzles on the way. It is, in my opinion, one of the best examples of what VR can do at this point in time. Check out the gameplay video below:

No Man’s Sky VR

Developed by English developer Hello Games UK, released last year and is currently available for XboxOne, PS4, and Steam. No Man’s Sky features planetary exploration, deep oceans, space-based battles, predators and prey, and much more. Taking advantage of how enormous the galaxy is, the game ensures that you never run out of new things to do. Despite mixed reviews upon release, later patches and updates has made No Man’s Sky VR into a very entertaining and immersive game that genuinely transports you to other worlds.

What Is Needed to Play VR Games?

• Oculus Rift and HTC Vive

HTC Vive and Oculus Rift are the two premium VR experiences. They can both be used with PC and allow you to play all the VR PC games. Both systems include the VR headsets, movement sensors, and various controllers. The two options are currently the best ones for dedicated PC gamers looking to experience the virtual world of gaming.

• PlayStation VR

PlayStation VR is Vive’s and Rift’s best alternative, which is meant for use with a PlayStation. However, its hardware aspect is not as high as what you get on Vive and Rift, though it still offers a solid VR experience.

• Samsung Gear VR

This is one of the best phone-based VR systems. There are many others available in the market, but most of them offer gimmick experiences as opposed to the real VR experience. The Gear VR makes use of the Oculus technology to provide the best VR experience you can get from a phone.

VR in 2020

Virtual reality gaming is not where many would expect it to be, but that does not mean that it will not get there. The many limitations setting it back are time-solvable, which implies that VR gaming will dominate the future. That is more of the case with the increased popularization via online casinos and other such major platforms.