Graphics can be a touchy subject in VR. Standalone headsets are only capable of so much on their own, but consoles and PCs are expensive. When something like Subside comes along, though, even an early access Steam demo can help us all pause, look around, and take in what really eye-catching visuals can do to transport you somewhere else.
The new demo from A2D is available on Steam as of this writing with a full release listed as "coming soon".
You can simply reach out in front of you and spread your arms out to swim beneath the churning waters to see a world that's teeming with life. Schools of fish dart through the water with fluid motion while sunbeams filter through the water creating shafts of light in a visual feast. Some may never get to experience diving into clear waters like these, making Subside immediately transportive on the power of these elements alone.
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A2D's swimming mechanic feels intuitive and, more importantly, realistic. The resistance of water feels palpable as you paddle through the sea, and buoyancy seems to replicate the feeling of bobbing and diving.
The demo for Subside offers a glimpse of a satisfying underwater excursion and we'll be curious to take a deeper dive into whenever we get the chance. Subside is definitely on our radar now, and if you have a PC and VR headset around we recommend giving the free demo a quick look on Steam.
Alien: Rogue Incursion was just announced, a new made-for-VR game in the Alien franchise.
The game is being developed by Survios in collaboration with 20th Century Games. Survios has been developing VR games for over 10 years now. It's the developer behind Raw Data, Battlewake, Electronauts, Sprint Vector, and Creed: Rise to Glory.
Survios says Alien: Rogue Incursion will be "the biggest, most ambitious VR game we have developed in our decade-long history".
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Here's how it describes the game:
"This brand-new single-player, action-horror VR game features an original story that fully surrounds players within the terrors of the Alien universe.
Designed by Alien fans for Alien fans, Survios brings their expertise to crafting this technically advanced, and frightfully immersive Alien virtual reality game."
Alien: Rogue Incursion is set to launch "holiday 2024" on Meta Quest 3, PlayStation VR2, and PC VR via Steam.
This is the biggest title yet listing support for Quest 3 but not Quest 2 and Quest Pro, something we've been warning about happening for some time now. Meta is rumored to be preparing to launch a cheaper version of Quest 3 with the same chipset, so this game should run on that headset too.
We’ve been waiting patiently for veteran VR studio Survios to finally offer up some details on its next game, and today we finally have them. Alien: Rogue Incursion is described as a “single-player, action-horror VR game,” with an “all-new storyline full of heart-pounding action, exploration, and terrifying Xenomorphs.”
Almost two full years after Survios confirmed development on an Alien game in partnership with 20th Century Games, the studio has now confirmed the game’s title, target platforms, and release window.
Alien: Rogue Incursion is planned for a release date of “holiday 2024” (so very likely early December). The game will be released on PSVR 2 and PC VR, and for Quest our understanding is it will be exclusively available on Quest 3.
“Our team at Survios are huge fans of Alien and have been building Alien: Rogue Incursion for a long time, honing our ability to pair the most technically advanced, immersive, and engaging VR experiences with best-in-class franchises,” says TQ Jefferson, Chief Product Officer at Survios. “This fully original story embraces all our favorite elements from 45 years of Alien, from kinetic action and heart-pounding exploration to our terrifyingly resourceful Xenomorphs that will truly make your skin crawl. We can’t wait for fans to get their hands on it this holiday season.”
Two and a half years ago, Pimax announced VR Station, a compact, console-like computer for running PC VR content that would be wirelessly streamed to its Reality “12K” and Crystal headsets. And while the “12K” still hasn’t shipped (and the Crystal still doesn’t have its wireless streaming add-on), Pimax insists the VR Station is still in the works.
The VR Station was announced in late 2021, and is said to be a compact PC that’s designed to play PC VR games wirelessly thanks to a high-resolution 60GHz accessory.
In its announcement last week, Pimax offered an update on the 60GHz ‘Airlink’ wireless accessory: it should ship later this year with a $300 price tag. While it can be used with any PC, the Airlink tech is an essential part of the VR Station.
But there was no update about the VR Station itself, so we reached out to ask. Pimax tells Road to VR that VR Station is still in development.
“Currently, the development of the VR Station is progressing smoothly. We are focusing on optimizing software usability, and our collaborating PC case manufacturers are producing a new batch of PC cases. Once delivered, we will assemble some VR Station prototypes,” a spokesperson says. “We believe that we will soon have further updates to share with everyone. For now, we can share that VR Station is a comprehensive solution combining a portable desktop PC with a [wireless transmitter for streaming VR games]. With VR Station, we aim to enhance the PC VR user experience and ultimately achieve a “plug-and-play” experience similar to gaming consoles. In our planning, both software usability and hardware stability are top priorities. Therefore, we are still in contact with several PC manufacturers to explore the possibilities of VR Station.
So there you have it. It’s still not clear when, but Pimax still expects to eventually deliver the VR Station.
When it does launch, it unfortunately won’t be compatible with either of the company’s latest headsets (Crystal Light and Crystal Super), because only the original Crystal headset is compatible with Airlink. But perhaps the Reality “12K” headset—which Pimax also says is still in development—will be ready by the time VR Station launches.
Note: We put the “12K” part of the headset’s name in quotes because Pimax isn’t referring to the same 12K that is often used to describe TVs and monitors. The headset’s total horizontal resolution is near 12K, but this is split across each eye. Additionally, the resolution height is just half the height of what one would expect from a 12K TV. When referring to the headset’s name, we put “12K” in quotes to help our readers understand that it’s being used differently than they might expect.
Contractors Showdown, a VR battle royale shooter that supports 60-player matches, is out now.
Developed by Caveman Studio, Contractors Showdown is a sequel to 2018's Contractors. Set across a 16-square-kilometer map, you can dive in with doubles, trios, or solo, and everyone can choose between three types of perks per match for strategic advantages. Progression lets you earn resource points, fulfill contracts, unlock blueprints, obtain cosmetics, and more.
For more details on gameplay, here's an official description:
Navigate the high-stakes arena using an array of tactical props, including airstrikes and UAVs. These game-changing elements elevate the intensity, offering players the opportunity to unleash powerful tools and outsmart their opponents. Plan your moves, coordinate with your squad, and deploy these strategic assets to dominate the battlefield.
It was initially unclear if Contractors Showdown would reach both Steam and Quest simultaneously, and we were told “unforeseen circumstances“ have held back a Steam release at the last minute following last month's open beta tests.
Contractors Showdown is available now on the Meta Quest platform and “a new release date” for Steam should be announced soon. The title is priced $19.99.
Headlines are circulating claiming Apple cut Vision Pro production by almost 50% due to weak demand. Here's why they're almost certainly false.
The source of these articles is a new note from supply-chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has been reporting on Apple's supply chain for more than 10 years. Kuo's claims sometimes turn out to be true, but not always, and his latest contradicts not only what we know about Vision Pro production, but what Kuo himself said just a few months ago.
Specifically, Kuo is claiming that Apple reduced its sales forecast from Vision Pro from a "market consensus" of 700-750K units to 400-450K units, a roughly 40% reduction.
Kuo claims this is due to weaker than expected US demand, leading to a production cut ahead of global launch. Yet as recently as February Kuo said Apple's US target was 150-200K units for 2024, and in January he said Apple sold almost 200K preorders. MacRumors separately cited "a source with knowledge of Apple's sales numbers" as saying Apple had sold 200K preorders, particularly ironic given it's now presenting Kuo's claim and as if it were official news.
Further, in January Kuo was also referencing Apple Vision Pro "achieving a shipment volume of 500,000 units". This isn't just a random number - it's what multiple sources report is Apple's supply limit for the year, regardless of demand.
The Financial Times, The Information, and The Elec have previously reported that Vision Pro production is heavily constrained by the extremely limited supply of micro-OLED displays. All three sources reported that Sony, the supplier, can only produce enough micro-OLED displays for less than half a million headsets in 2024. Given this, why would this claimed "market consensus" be 700-750K headset units in the first place? It simply doesn't make sense.
With a $3500 entry price Apple Vision Pro was never going to be a breakout mass market hit. The product's very name suggests it's just the beginning of the Vision headset line, and multiple sources have reported that Apple plans a more affordable model later in the decade. But Vision Pro's price is dictated by its production and supply constraints, and it's those constraints limiting its volume, not lower than expected demand.
Reality Labs is the division of Meta behind Quest headsets, the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, and research & development toward AR glasses and their neural wristband input device.
In its Q1 2024 earnings call today Meta reported $440 million Reality Labs quarterly revenue, 30% higher than Q1 2023. Meta CFO Susan Li told investors this record revenue was "driven by Quest headset sales". However, it's also 36% lower than Q1 2022 and 18% lower than Q1 2021.
This suggests Quest 3 is continuing to sell well after its launch quarter, which saw Reality Labs' highest quarterly revenue ever, though isn't maintaining post-launch sales momentum as well as Quest 2 did (though it does have higher retention).
That's almost certainly because Quest 3 launched with a $200 higher entry price. Even adjusted for inflation, that's still $150 higher, putting it in a different price segment than Quest 2.
A leaked Meta hardware roadmap from last year and reports from The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and a Chinese analyst who has been reliable in the past suggest Meta plans to soon launch a cheaper version of Quest 3 to directly replace Quest 2, rumored to be called "Quest 3S" or "Quest 3 Lite". Meta's recent actions suggest it's trying to clear stock of Quest 2 and its official accessories to make way for this new lower priced headset.
This cheaper version of Quest 3 will be crucial for Reality Labs' prospects of achieving overall yearly growth.
Reality Labs reported $4.29 billion costs in Q1 2024, a minuscule decrease of 1% compared to Q1 2023.
That means Reality Labs made a $3.85 quarterly "loss" in Q1 2024. But while describing this as a loss is technically correct in a financial sense, in reality it's more accurate to describe most of it as long term investment. XR headsets like Quest are still a relatively early technology, far from maturity, and Meta hasn't even launched its first AR glasses yet. More than 50% of Reality Labs spending is on the research and development of AR glasses.
Also, Meta managed to decrease quarterly costs by 1% while increasing revenue by 30%, this suggests Reality Labs is slowly progressing on the path to profitability. It might also suggest Quest 3 is less subsidised than Quest 2 was.
As in previous quarters, Susan Li told investors she expects these losses to continue to increase meaningfully over the next year due to "ongoing product development efforts and our investments to further scale our ecosystem".
Mark Zuckerberg has in the past told investors that he doesn't expect Reality Labs to be profitable until the 2030s, seeing it as a long-term investment in the future of computing.
Some of my favorite games over the years have been the ones that allow for the manipulation of time. In 2001, the release of Max Payne from Remedy Entertainment changed everything.
Suddenly we were given the ability to run into rooms filled with enemies while using our newfound ability to seamlessly slow down time at the touch of a button, giving players the ability to take out enemies in a slow motion ballet of pure carnage. This was a game changer for the action genre, and "Bullet Time" was born.
In the lead up to the launch of VR as a consumer platform we saw several other gaming franchises using variations of these time manipulation techniques and, in 2016, a new variant made its way into what is now considered a classic virtual reality gaming experience — SUPERHOT VR.
COLD VR - SUPERHOT
Comparing COLD VR to SUPERHOT
OK, so let's get this out of the way up front... It's almost impossible to talk about COLD VR without comparing it to SUPERHOT VR. While it's true that both games share a time manipulation mechanic, they approach it in fundamentally different ways.
In SUPERHOT, time moves only when players do, giving them the ability to plan their next moves in order to outwit enemies. So this take on the time manipulation mechanic creates a strategic and almost puzzle-like experience that ultimately rewards players for carefully planning precision strikes.
In Cold VR, the mechanic is reversed and time progresses at full speed only when movement stops causing players to have to think on their feet in order to react quickly to the ever-changing environment around them. The constant need for locomotion serves to create a more chaotic and adrenaline-fueled style of gameplay that's challenging, and it also makes you feel like a badass digital John Wick.
What Does COLD VR Get Right?
One thing that always seems to make a game stand out for me is when it has some level of story, especially when it's in VR. I like my virtual excursions to have a narrative so I can lose myself in the depth of these games, providing a connection that makes these adventures stay with me longer. With that in mind, I'm happy to say that COLD VR isn't just about gameplay mechanics, it also presents a cool blend of high quality live-action video sequences coupled with in-game storytelling that puts players in the position of ultimately determining the fate of humanity.
Look and Feel
As for the look and feel of COLD VR, it's clear that ALLWARE has paid a lot of attention to detail. There’s a challenging enemy AI and subtle environmental cues that help with guiding forward progress, coming together to complement the game's tense atmosphere. The visuals feature a sleek and modern aesthetic filled full of advanced lighting effects, dynamic shadows and reflections all set against a backdrop painted in a vibrant neon draped color palette that focuses on blues and whites presenting a futuristic and icy atmosphere.
The sound design in COLD VR is also a nice accompaniment to the games visuals. ALLWARE has filled the demo with a variety of musical styles, all serving to amp up the backtrack of the game's levels while bullets whiz past enveloping players in the sounds of glass shattering as enemies fall all around. Overall, everything blends together nicely to create a pleasing visual and auditory experience.
Comfort
Now with all of this fast paced movement I know some folks are probably wondering about the comfort levels in this one. This is a game played from a first person perspective and it has some fast paced movements like bullet dodging while sprinting toward multiple enemies, so for those without strong VR legs some discomfort might be in the cards. For the increased immersion it brings I found it best to play this one standing and as for the locomotion options in the game, in this early demo players have either snap turning by default or just turning with their own bodies. There were no other options to be found in this early demo build so for players who need or prefer to play the game seated, hopefully ALLWARE will consider adding a smooth turning option when the game officially launches.
A Cool Look At What's To Come
The demo for COLD VR on Steam offers a glimpse into an exciting upcoming game and, while it's pretty obvious this is SUPERHOT in reverse, there is enough new and different here to say that COLD VR seems to stand on its own merits. This game definitely has us both curious and excited to see what Argentinian developer Carlos Alfonso brings us when it officially launches. The full game is listed as coming soon so hopefully we will see a full release before the anticipation for more COLD VR melts away.
COLD VR arrives this year on PC VR, and the free demo is available now. PSVR 2 and Quest 2/3 ports should follow after the Steam release, followed by a flatscreen version on all major platforms.
John Carmack just gave his take on Meta's new strategy of providing its headset OS to third-party hardware companies.
If you somehow missed the news yesterday, Horizon OS is the new name for the Quest system software, which Meta will also make available to third-party headset makers, starting with ASUS, Lenovo, and potentially LG too.
But former Oculus CTO John Carmack, who architected much of the Oculus Mobile system software that eventually became the Quest system software, and soon Horizon OS, doesn't seem to think this is such a great idea for Meta.
Carmack points out that third-parties will have to price higher than Quest, since Meta sells its hardware at cost. Carmack has repeatedly called for lower cost headsets that open up the VR market to more people. While he says Meta's strategy will enable “boutique” headsets that push areas like resolution, field of view, or comfort, he suggests this "brings with it a tension" that Meta will no longer have the "shine of making industry leading high-end gear", which he suggests will force Meta to focus on "novel new hardware systems from the research pipeline for their high end systems, which is going to lead to poor decisions".
"VR is held back more by software than hardware"
But Carmack's biggest criticism of the idea is from a software perspective. He claims the strategy will be "a drag on software development at Meta", because the engineering resources needed to make the OS suitable for third-parties and "maintaining good communication and trying not to break your partners" will "steal the focus" of Meta's key software engineers that would be "better spent improving the system". This is vital, in his words, because "VR is held back more by software than hardware".
Carmack finished his statement by suggesting "allowing partner access to the full OS build for standard Quest hardware" instead, which he claims could be done very cheaply and enable specialty applications and location-based entertainment, though he acknowledges it would be "a much lower key announcement".
"Meta already sells the Quest systems basically at production cost, and just ignores the development costs, so don’t expect this to result in cheaper VR headsets from other companies with Quest equivalent capabilities. Even if the other companies have greater efficiency, they can’t compete with that.
What it CAN do is enable a variety of high end “boutique” headsets, as you get with Varjo / Pimax / Bigscreen on SteamVR. Push on resolution, push on field of view, push on comfort. You could drive the Apple displays from Quest silicon. You could make a headset for people with extremely wide or narrow IPD or unusual head / face shapes. You could add crazy cooling systems and overclock everything. All with full app compatibility, but at higher price points. That would be great!
This brings with it a tension, because Meta as a company, as well as the individual engineers, want the shine of making industry leading high-end gear. If Meta cedes those “simple scaling” axes to other headset developers, they will be left leaning in with novel new hardware systems from the research pipeline for their high end systems, which is going to lead to poor decisions.
VR is held back more by software than hardware. This initiative will be a drag on software development at Meta. Unquestionably. Preparing the entire system for sharing, then maintaining good communication and trying not to break your partners will steal the focus of key developers that would be better spent improving the system. It is tempting to think this is just a matter of increasing the budget, but that is not the way it works in practice – sharing the system with partners is not a cost that can be cleanly factored out.
Just allowing partner access to the full OS build for standard Quest hardware could be done very cheaply, and would open up a lot of specialty applications and location based entertainment systems, but that would be a much lower key announcement."
Ray-Ban Meta Glasses now have a third style option, first-person view sharing in WhatsApp & Messenger calls, and look-and-ask visual AI in the US & Canada.
The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses launched at Connect 2023. They're first-person camera glasses that let you capture hands-free first-person photos and videos, take phone calls, listen to music, or livestream your view to Instagram.
In the US & Canada the other headline feature is Meta AI, a conversational assistant you can talk to by saying "Hey Meta". Meta AI is much more advanced than the current Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant, because it's powered by Meta's Llama 2 large language model (LLM), the same kind of technology that powers ChatGPT. However, like other LLMs it can be subject to hallucinations, and it currently lacks the smart home integrations traditional digital assistants have.
Mark Zuckerberg recently said on a podcast that Meta has seen huge demand for Ray-Ban Meta Glasses and is selling them as fast as it can make them. At the time of writing, many variants are currently out of stock awaiting resupply.
Meta AI With Vision (US & Canada Only)
From today, Meta AI is no longer limited to speech input. It can now also answer queries about what you're looking at or the last photo you took.
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This multimodal AI capability has many potential use cases, such as identifying a plant or animal, answering questions about what you're cooking, suggesting a caption for a photo, or even translating a poster or sign in another language.
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Example of Meta AI translating a poster.
Meta AI with Vision was previously available as an early access beta to a "limited number" of users, but is now rolling out for all US & Canada owners.
First-Person View Sharing In Video Calls
Ray-Ban Meta glasses have been able to livestream your view to Instagram since launching. From today, they can also stream your view on WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger video calls.
While on a WhatsApp or Messenger call on your phone, if your glasses are connected you'll see a new button to start streaming your view. Alternatively, you can double-pres the physical button on the glasses.
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Meta says view sharing in WhatsApp and Messenger video calls is "rolling out gradually", so it may take some time until it's available to each owner.
New Skyler Style & Headliner Options
Ray-Ban Meta glasses launched with two available styles, Wayfarer and Headliner.
Skyler in Shiny Chalky Gray with Gradient Cinnamon Pink lenses.
Today EssilorLuxottica is introducing a third style option called Skyler, which it says is inspired by its 1960s archive, "an era of iconic jet-set style".
Like Headliner though, Skyler is only available in the Standard size, so isn't suitable for larger faces. Wayfarer, in contrast, is also available in a Large size.
EssilorLuxottica is also introducing a "low bridge fit" variant of the Headliner style, which will be available in Shiny Black with Polar G15 Lenses. Meta says this low bridge fit is for "if your glasses tend to slide down your nose, sit too low on your face, or press on your cheeks".
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Various styles of Ray-Ban Meta glasses.
Five more color variants will be released this summer:
Skyler in Shiny Caramel with Polar Brown Lenses
Skyler in Shiny Black with Polar G15 Lenses
Wayfarer in Shiny Warm Stone with Transitions® Watermelon Red Lenses
Headliner in Shiny Warm Stone with Transitions® Saffron Yellow Lenses
Headliner Low Bridge Fit in Shiny Warm Stone with Transitions® Dark Green Lenses
Finally, a limited edition "Scuderia Ferrari colorway" variant of the Ray-Ban Meta glasses will be released tomorrow for the Miami Grand Prix 2024.
Meta is partnering with Microsoft's Xbox to create a "limited edition Meta Quest" headset.
The announcement comes as Meta also announced it's renaming the Quest software platform to Meta Horizon OS, and letting third-party hardware companies such as ASUS and Lenovo make headsets running it.
Unlike the ASUS and Lenovo headsets which are described as new headsets though, the Xbox headset is described as a "limited edition Meta Quest". Quest is remaining only as the brand for Meta's first-party headsets, suggesting this will be an edition of Quest 3, not an entirely new headset.
The concept image also suggests this, as it has the exact same strap design, shape, proportions, and camera and headphone jack locations as Quest 3.
According to Mark Zuckerberg, it will include an Xbox controller in the box so you can play Xbox Cloud Gaming with no additional hardware.
This will be a continuation of the long-term strategic partnership Meta and Microsoft announced back in 2022. So far it's brought Xbox Cloud Gaming to Meta's XR platform, as well as progressive web apps for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. According to the 2022 announcement, the next step in that partnership should be bringing Windows 365, which streams a virtual full-fledged Windows 11 PC from the cloud for a subscription fee.
Episode 2 of Prehistoric Planet Immersive is out now on Apple Vision Pro.
Prehistoric Planet Immersive is an Apple Immersive Video documentary series directed by Jon Favreau, based on his existing flatscreen Apple TV+ series Prehistoric Planet.
The Apple Immersive Video format is 180-degree video with 8K resolution, stereoscopic 3D, and spatial audio. It's served from the Apple TV+ subscription service with much higher bitrate than most other immersive video platforms.
We highly praised Apple Immerise Video in our Vision Pro review. It's not possible to cast or record Apple Immersive Video though, so you'll have to take our word for it unless you have access to a Vision Pro.
Episode 1 of Prehistoric Planet Immersive has been available since Apple Vision Pro launched. It's called Pterosaur Beach. It takes you to a prehistoric ocean coast, where a resting pterosaur colony is attacked by a pack of raptors.
Episode 2 is called Triceratops Forest. In it you follow a family of triceratops moving through a dense forest as they're also attacked by a pack of (slightly different) raptors.
Each episode is around five minutes long. Unlike the flatscreen Prehistoric Planet series, the Prehistoric Planet Immersive does not feature narration from David Attenborough.
Prehistoric Planet Immersive is exclusively available from the Apple TV+ service in the Apple TV app on Apple Vision Pro.
Searching for the best Meta Quest 3 accessories? Here's what you need to know.
Meta's latest headset is just getting started and if you're looking to pick up a Quest 3, you've likely got your eye on at least one of the many accessories being offered. Between carrying cases, headset straps, earbuds and prescription lenses, there's much to consider.
Before we begin, it's worth noting what Quest 3 includes out of the box. Every headset comes with a standard black facial interface, two Touch Plus controllers with two AA batteries already inserted, a 1m Type-C charging cable and a Type-C charging plug socket adapter.
Previously, we rounded up the Quest 3 accessories available at launch but we've since gone hands-on with different options and are confident in providing our recommendations. Alongside Meta's official accessories, expect more third-party options from companies over time, some of whom are included in the 'Made For Meta' program. We'll revisit them as more become available.
To keep this list varied with price, purpose and quality, we've included multiple options on each segment while highlighting our preferred choices. Accessories are never a one-size-fits-all choice, so we're aiming to account for personal preferences.
For now, here's our round-up of the best Quest 3 accessories currently available:
Best Quest 3 Head Straps
KIWI Design Comfort Head Strap
Different head shapes mean the standard default strap won't be the best option for many people. Just like with Quest 2, Meta has released a sturdier 'Elite Strap' with a click wheel behind for tightening. We've found the Elite Strap to once again be the more comfortable option for longer sessions, though our Quest 3 review notes that the default strap was good enough for roughly an hour of use.
While it's a more comfortable option, that doesn't necessarily mean the official Elite Strap is the best pick. We've found its lower positioning compared to the default strap means it can bunch up longer hair around your ears.
Previously, the ZyberVR Head Strap was our top choice since it adds memory foam padding to the top strap, a 60° adjustable hinge and costs nearly half the price. However, we've since found the KIWI Design Comfort Head Strap to be slightly more comfortable and of similar build quality, only it’s easier to connect the rear headrest. We also found the APEXINNO Comfort Head Strap offered a decent alternative for its price, though the build quality is slightly lower.
Just be aware that official Quest 2 Elite Straps aren't compatible with Quest 3 headsets. If you bought a BOBOVR M2 Head Strap, the company has developed a retrofit kit to make that compatible with Quest 3. Similarly, KIWI Design also released a conversion kit. If you're seeking a battery head strap for some extra charge, more details on that further down.
With roughly 2-3 hours of battery life on Quest 3, depending on usage, a head strap with a built-in battery pack may prove tempting over a standard elite strap. Since launch, we've been testing Meta's official option and while reviewing Assassin's Creed Nexus, it provided roughly 90-120 minutes of extra charge. The downside is that it's very pricey at $130 and only holds 2300mAh capacity.
So far, our top recommendation is the KIWI Design SPC Battery Head Strap. For $80, that nearly triples the battery capacity at 6400mAh capacity. It also includes adjustable hinges and significantly comfier padding for the top strap and rear headrest than the official option.
Elsewhere, Bobovr's M3 Pro comes a close second, having impressed us with similar comfort and a removable battery pack with a smaller 5200mAh capacity. We also liked the Annapro Battery Head Strap with 6500mAh capacity and similar strap comfort, though the build quality is slightly less impressive.
For a portable standalone headset, chances are you'll want a Quest 3 carrying case to take your new headset on the go or simply keep it safe at home. The official carrying case is a nice option, though it's also quite expensive. Our top recommendation is the Annapro Carrying Case for Quest 3, which comfortably fits your headset even when using a third-party head strap.
If you're looking for a more lightweight option, we've found storing your Quest 3 inside these microfiber bags is an effective method. We've also tried Aukiba's Quest 3 case, which uses a sturdy shell but isn't the most secure fit for your headset.
If you're after specific Quest 3 charging docks, Meta's official option is a great choice that comes with rechargeable batteries for your Touch Plus controllers. Our review praised it for "its impressive design and convenience" but considered it hard to justify the high asking price of $130 unless you plan on using your Quest 3 regularly.
The RGB Vertical Charging Stand from KIWI Design presents a cheaper option. Costing $80, this places your Quest controllers in two grips and an adjustable magnetic connector for charging. It's a fine alternative that doesn't include rechargeable batteries (you can always buy them separately) but the sleek design and wireless charging means we prefer the official dock.
If all you're looking for is a headset stand that doesn't charge your Quest 3, the AMVR VR Stand offers a much cheaper alternative. There's also the ZyberVR Quest 3 Sky Tower Charging Dock, which we've yet to go hands-on with.
For anyone buying Quest 3 with fitness in mind, you should consider picking up a silicone face cover. That's not because the standard face cover isn't comfortable, though. Unfortunately, it's made of cloth and will absorb sweat pretty quickly. A silicone cover makes your headset easier to keep clean but at $40, Meta's official option is pricey.
For $9.99, we recommend Apexinno's Silicone Face Pad, which does the same job and remains comfortable for a much lower price. We also found an agreeable option with the APEXINNO Facial Interface and Annapro's Silicone Face Pad, the latter of which comes bundled with controller grips. VR Cover also sells disposable covers in packs of 25 or 50 covers, starting from $10.
Unlike Quest 2, no glasses spacers are required but prescription lenses may still be preferable. For Quest 3, Meta is officially partnering with Zenni via the Made for Meta program. Costing $50, Zenni's option comes with anti-scratch, anti-reflective, water-resistant and oil-resistant coatings. Microfiber cloth and a carrying case are also included.
Cheaper alternatives like VR Rock offers lenses from $25 onwards, though additions like anti-glare cost extra. VR Optician also sells protective and prescription lenses, offering similar perks and prism corrections to assist with double vision. However, that retails for a much higher price.
So far, we're impressed with Zenni's option. Our writers found them to be a great option that easily clicks into place and choosing prescription lenses means you won't risk scratching your glasses against the Quest 3 lenses. Should you wish to protect your lenses from sunlight, third-party covers are also available. We'd also suggest microfibre cloths for keeping them clean.
While you can use any bluetooth headphones or earbuds with Quest 3 – alongside 3.5mm wired headphones – Bluetooth's inherent latency issues mean wireless bluetooth sets usually won't work well in VR. So, you're better off looking for 3.5mm headphones or ones with a USB-C dongle.
Meta's partnered with Razer with its Made for Meta program for a Quest version of the noise-cancelling 'Hammerhead HyperSpeed' earbuds. You can use the USB-C dongle for a 2.4GHz wireless connection or Bluetooth. However, Razer's option isn't available until later this year, though PlayStation and Xbox branded versions are.
For now, we'd recommend the Soundcore VR P10 Earbuds. It's a comfortable and completely wireless option that plugs into the Quest 3's USB-C port through a dongle and comes with a rechargeable case. That's improved further by the dongle including a passthrough USB-C port, so you can still charge your headset simultaneously.
The Quest 3 comes with a 1-metre USB-C-to-USB-C charging cable but if you're planning to play PC VR games through Quest Link, that simply isn't enough. If your WiFi isn't strong enough for Air Link or Virtual Desktop and you'd prefer an alternative, we'd recommend buying a 5m/16ft cable to avoid limiting your movement.
There isn't an official Quest 3 Link Cable yet, though the Quest 2 Link Cable works. However, that's another pricey choice at $79. Our personal pick right now is the third-party Syntech 5m Link Cable, which performs just as well and costs less than half the official option does.
Not everyone wants to use a head strap with a built-in battery pack to keep your Quest 3 charged. Comfortable weight distribution will differ depending on who you ask and to compensate for this, some people are instead using external battery packs to place that weight elsewhere.
So far, we've seen more standardized external batteries alongside more wearable designs for your belt and neck. Our writers have also found it comfortable using an Anker Prime while placing it inside this sling bag. Apps and games drain the battery at varying rates, so we'd recommend an external battery with a 30W minimum charge to keep your Quest 3 running.
While we've aimed to make this list as comprehensive as possible, there are a few types of Quest 3 accessories that come down to personal preference. We can't say Meta's blue Quest 3 facial strap is better than orange when they otherwise function identically, and that's also true for shell covers.
We've also included accessory types that we haven't directly tried yet in this section, namely gunstocks and controller grips. We're not prepared to recommend these until we've gone hands-on, so those categories may move into the main section at a later date. For now, here's everything else you can find for Quest 3 accessories.
Quest 3 Controller Grips and Straps
Meta Quest 3 Active Straps
The Touch Plus controllers for Quest 3 include a basic strap as standard, letting you securely place them around your wrists so they don't go flying. Effective but no thrills. Meta has premium 'Active Straps' available, while some third-party like AMVR are introducing silicone grip covers.
So far, we've only tested two options - the Knuckle Controller Grips from KIWI Design and Annapro Controller Grips, so we'd like to try more options before providing an official top recommendation. While we enjoyed using both and found the quality to be similar, we consider Annapro's option to be the better value pick since it also includes a silicone face pad cover.
As a reminder, the Touch Pro controllers are also compatible with Quest 3, so you may want to consider using those if you own a Quest Pro. However, buying them separately costs an extra $300, nearly half as much as the 512GB Quest 3 headset alone.
Beyond the standard black bundled with your Quest 3, Meta only officially offers blue and orange cloth straps for an extra cost. Presently, these colors are not available for the Elite Straps so if you really want to brighten up your headset, you may have to compromise. Otherwise, VR Cover also sells cloth face covers.
Not a fan of the white Quest 3 design? Alongside the colored facial interfaces, some third-party companies are also making face covers. So far, we've only seen a handful and we haven't tried any of these directly.
Looking for a gun attachment for your Touch Pro controllers? We've not seen many yet beyond ProTubeVR. On Quest 3, they have a few options currently available.
Some Quest 3 accessories simply don't fit into one neat little category, so we wanted to ensure those were also accounted for. From Beat Saber to Walkabout Mini Golf accessories, here's what we've found so far.
Disclaimer: When you purchase items through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission from those sales. All prices listed on this page are for the RRP but items may be on sale when checked.
Update notice: this article was first published on October 10, 2023. We updated this list on November 23, 2023, January 1, 2024 and April 22 to update our recommendations and include newly announced accessories.
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