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25 Free Games & Apps Quest 3 Owners Should Download First

✇Road to VR
By: Scott Hayden
1 August 2024 at 15:30

Not ready to plonk down your first $100 on Quest games? Thankfully there’s an impressive number of free games, experiences, apps, and social VR platforms to keep you playing before you’re paying—all of them compatible with Quest 2, Quest Pro, and Meta’s latest, Quest 3.

Looking to make your Quest 3 gaming experience even better? Don’t miss our top picks for the most essential Quest 3 accessories.

Free Quest Games

Yeeps: Hide and Seek

As a Yeep, your belly is full of stuffing used to craft anything from pillows for building to bombs for destruction. Pull items from your vast imagination and toss them into the world. The game’s intuitive block-based building makes it easy to express your creativity at any skill level.

Maestro: The Masterclass

Step on the podium and become a true orchestra conductor in Maestro: The Masterclass. Play hands free or grab a chopstick and master the real hands motions that command the orchestra through an off the rail conducting masterclass that culminates with an epic symphonic concert in a packed opera house. Good luck, Maestro!

Gorilla Tag

Like your primitive ancestors, Gorilla Tag will have you lumbering around a tree-lined arena using its unique ‘grab-the-world’ locomotion style that lets you amble around like a great ape. Chase the other apes and infect them or climb for your life as the infected chase you. Pure and simple. Make sure you’re far from TVs, furniture, babies, and pets because you will punch something in the mad dash for sweet, low-poly freedom.

Noclip VR

Riding off the success of cult-like status of ‘The Backrooms’ Internet lore, Noclip VR lets you and online players explore the liminal spaces, solve puzzles, and escape that which lurks within. To move, you’ll need to swing your arms, and always keep in ear-shot of your friends, otherwise they won’t hear you scream. Gameplay is a bit barebones, making it feel more like something you’d find imported on a social platform like VR Chat or Rec Room, although it’s definitely invoking Gorilla Tag vibes.

Population: One

Population: One is basically VR’s most successful battle royale, letting you climb, fly, shoot, and team-up with whoever dares. The free-to-play game does feature microtransactions, but only for cosmetics, which is nice. It’s more than just a battle royale though: you can play in the sandbox for custom maps and rules, team deathmatch with customizable loadouts, a 12v12 war mode, and more.

Gun Raiders

Gun Raiders serves up a healthy slice of multiplayer shooter action with multiple game modes that let you jetpack through the air, climb from wall to wall, and shoot down the competition. There’s the same sort of microtransactions you see in bigger games, but it they’re all avatar skin stuff, so no pay-to-win here.

  • Developer: Gun Raiders Entertainment Inc.
  • Store link

Gym Class – Basketball

Gym Class – Basketball is the solution if you’re looking to shoot some hoops and dunk like you probably can’t on a physical court. Online multiplayer lets you go head-to-head for a pretty convincing game of b-ball thanks to the game’s physics-based and full-body kinematics.

Blaston

This room-scale shooter is now free-to-play, letting you take on friends, family and foes in head-to-head 1v1 dueling. Refine your loadout and jump into the action as you scramble for weapons and send a volley of hellfire at your enemies, all the while Matrix dodging through this innovative bullet hell meets futuristic dueling game.

Hyper Dash

Hyper Dash is a multiplayer shooter that basically fills in where Echo Combat never could (never mind that Echo Combat was never on Quest, and is now entirely defunct on Oculus PC). Letting you quick dash, sprint, and rail grind around, Hyper Dash manages to serve up an impressive number of modes, including Payload, Domination, Control Point, (Team) Deathmatch, Capture The Flag, and Elimination. You can also take on both Quest and SteamVR users thanks to the inclusion of cross-play.

Ultimechs

Ultimechs should look pretty familiar: it’s basically Rocket League, but instead of driving around in cars, you’re given rocket-powered fists to punch balls into the goal. Online multiplayer includes both 1v1 and 2v2 matches, offering up tons of opportunities to earn cosmetic gear that will let you outfit your battle mech into something unique. There are also now two paid battle passes too, offering up a ton of cosmetics to set you apart from the competition.

Battle Talent

Battle Talent is one of those fighting sims that let you go ham on ragdoll baddies, which in this case are wily goblins and loads of skelingtons. This physics-based roguelite action game lets you climb, run and slide your way through levels as you slash, shoot, and wield magic against your foes.

Cards & Tankards

Cards & Tankards is a pretty addictive social collectible card game, letting you collect and battle friends with over 180 cards. With cross-play against SteamVR headsets (also free on PC), you may consider hosting your regular game night playing more than a few rounds in the game’s characteristic medieval fantasy tavern.

Vegas Infinite

No real cash gambling here, but PokerStars’ Vegas Infinite not only let you go all-in on games of Texas Hold’em, but now a full casino’s worth of table games a machines that are sure to light up the dopamine starved pleasure centers of your brain. It’s all free play, so you won’t be risking real cash unless you buy in-game chips, which cannot be turned back into real money: it’s only to keep your bankroll flush for free play.

Bait!

Since the Fishin’ Buddies update, this classic VR title has gotten a whole new lease on life as a multiplayer VR fishing game that lets you sit back and crack a cold one with the boys as you reel in the big’uns. The additional social areas also let you sit back between your fishing adventures to take part in casual mini-games.

Gods of Gravity

Gods of Gravity is an arcade-style RTS game where you compete in an epic showdown of between celestial gods (2-8 players). Scoop up ships and fling them to capture a nearby planet, or open wormholes to teleport them across the solar system. Hold planets and moons to boost your production. Mine asteroids for the powerful resources within. And if you dare, capture the sun for the ultimate buff. Then send a massive fleet to conquer your enemy’s home planet. Last god standing wins.

Social VR Platforms

Rec Room

Without a doubt one of the most fun, and most expansive VR titles out there… and it’s free. Sure, you can pay real cash for in-game tokens to buy spiffy clothes for your avatar, but that’s really up to you. Gads of mini-games await you in both first-party creations such as the ever so popular co-op Quests—that could be games in their own right—to user-created stuff that will keep your pocket book gathering dust. It’s social VR, so meet people and have a ball for zero dollarydoos. Fair warning: there’s a ton of kids.

VRChat

If you’ve been anywhere near the Internet in the last few years, it’s likely you’ve already heard about VRChat, the user-generated social VR space filled with… well… everything you can imagine, re-pro games included like Among Us, Mario Kart, and even a version of Beat Saber. Fashion your own avatar or download the millions of user-generated avatars out there so you can embody SpongeBob, Kirito from Sword Art Online, or any one of the million anime girl avatars that you’re bound to see there.

Horizon Worlds

Horizon Worlds has changed a lot since launch. It now includes more tools, user-generated content, and some more compelling first-party games which has rounded out things to make it more competitive with Rec Room and VRChat. You may want to check in just to see the state of Meta’s first-party VR social platform. Whatever the case, the price of ‘free’ is hard to argue with.

Continue on Page 2: Free Experiences & Apps»

The post 25 Free Games & Apps Quest 3 Owners Should Download First appeared first on Road to VR.

Bigscreen Beyond’s Long-awaited Audio Strap to Begin Shipping Next Month

✇Road to VR
By: Scott Hayden
16 July 2024 at 13:17

Bigscreen announced that Beyond, its slim form factor PC VR headset, is finally getting its long-awaited Audio Strap starting next month.

Bigscreen Beyond initially shipped in late 2023 with promises that an audio headstrap was soon to follow, with the company saying last December that shipping was scheduled to start sometime in March 2024.

Following a number of manufacturing delays, Bigscreen says the first mass production batches will begin quality checks in early August, with global shipping starting sometime in mid-August.

“Based on current preorder volumes, we’ll be able to produce and ship Audio Straps for all orders received so far in early October,” the company said in its latest production update.

Image courtesy Bigscreen

Priced at $130 and available direct from Bigscreen, the rigid strap integrates on-ear headphones that Bigscreen says “provide[s] high-end audio and powerful bass,” noting the speakers are designed by Koss.

When Road to VR reviewed Bigscreen Beyond at its September 2023 launch, it was clear the device delivered on its promise of making the smallest possible headset with the highest possible image quality, but the lack of dedicated audio solution was a definite sore spot.

“Until we have the upcoming deluxe audio strap to pair with Beyond, it feels incomplete,” Road to VR’s Ben Lang writes in the rewview. “We’re patiently waiting to get our hands on the strap—as it will really make-or-break the headset—and plan to update our review when that time comes.”

The post Bigscreen Beyond’s Long-awaited Audio Strap to Begin Shipping Next Month appeared first on Road to VR.

Hypervision: Micro-OLED vs. LCD – And Why the Apple Vision Pro is “Blurry”

✇KGOnTech
By: Karl Guttag
14 June 2024 at 19:50

Introduction

The optics R&D  company Hypervision provided a detailed design analysis of the Apple Vision Pro’s optical design in June 2023 (see Apple Vision Pro (Part 4) – Hypervision Pancake Optics Analysis). Hypervision just released an interesting analysis exploring whether Micro-OLEDs, as used by the Apple Vision Pro, or LCDs used by Meta and most others, can support high 60 pixels per degree, angular resolution, and a wide FOV. Hypervision’s report is titled 60PPD: by fast LCD but not by micro OLED.

The optics R&D  company Hypervision provided a detailed design analysis of the Apple Vision Pro’s optical design in June 2023 (see Apple Vision Pro (Part 4) – Hypervision Pancake Optics Analysis). Hypervision just released an interesting analysis exploring whether Micro-OLEDs, as used by the Apple Vision Pro, or LCDs used by Meta and most others, can support high 60 pixels per degree, angular resolution, and a wide FOV. Hypervision’s report is titled 60PPD: by fast LCD but not by micro OLED. I’m going to touch on some highlights from Hypervision’s analysis. Please see their report for more details.

I Will Be at AWE Next Week

AWE is next week. I will be on the PANEL: Current State and Future Direction of AR Glasses at AWE on Wednesday, June 19th, from 11:30 AM to 12:25 PM. I still have a few time slots. If you want to meet, please email meet@kgontech.com.

AWE has moved to Long Beach, CA, south of LA, from its prior venue in Santa Clara. Last year at AWE, I presented Optical Versus Passthrough Mixed Reality, which is available on YouTube. This presentation was in anticipation of the Apple Vision Pro.

An AWE speaker discount code – SPKR24D- provides a 20% discount. You can register for AWE here.

Apple Vision Pro Sharpness Study at AWE 2024 – Need Help

As Hypervision’s analysis finds, plus reports I have received from users, the Apple Vision Pro’s sharpness varies from unit to unit. AWE 2024 is an opportunity to sample many Apple Vision Pro headsets to see how the focus varies from unit to unit. I will be there with my high-resolution camera.

While not absolutely necessary, it would be helpful if you could download my test pattern, located here, and install it on your Apple Vision Pro. If you want to help, contact me via meet@kgontech.com or flag me down at the show. I will be spending most of my time on the Expo floor. If you participate, you can remain anonymous or receive a mention of you or your company at the end of a related article thanking you for your participation. I can’t promise anything, but I thought it would be worth trying.

AVP Burry Image Controversy

My article Apple Vision Pro’s Optics Blurrier & Lower Contrast than Meta Quest 3 was the first to report that the AVP was a little blurry. I compared high-resolution pictures showing the same FOV with the AVP and the Meta Quest 3 (MQ3) in that article.

This article caused controversy and was discussed in many forums and influencers, including Linus Tech Tips and Marquess Brownlee (see Apple Vision Pro—Influencing the Influencers & “Information Density” and “Controversy” of the AVP Being a Little Blurry Discussed on Marques Brownlee’s Podcast and Hugo Barra’s Blog).

I have recently been taking pictures through Bigscreen Beyond’s (BSB) headset and decided to compare it with the same test (above right). In terms of optical sharpness, it is between the AVP and the MQ3. Interestingly, the BSB headset has a slightly lower angular resolution (~32 pixels per degree) than the AVP (~40 ppd) in the optically best part of the lens where these crops were taken. Yet, the text and line patterns look better on the BSB than AVP.

Hypervision’s Correction – The AVP is Not Out of Focus, and the Optics are Blurry

I speculated that the AVP seemed out of focus in Apple Vision Pro’s Optics Blurrier & Lower Contrast than Meta Quest 3. Hypervision corrected me that the softness could not be due to being out of focus. Hypervision has found that sharpness varies from one AVP to the next. The AVP’s best focus nominally occurs with an apparent focus of about 1 meter. Hypervision pointed out that if the headset’s device focus were slightly wrong, it would simply shift the apparent focus distance as the eye/camera would adjust to a small change in focus (unless it was so far off that eye/camera focusing was impossible). Thus, the blur is not a focus problem but rather a resolution problem with the optics.

Hypervision’s Analysis – Tolerances Required Beyond that of Today’s Plastic Optics

The AVP has very aggressive and complex pancake optics for a compact form factor while supporting a wide FOV with a relatively small Micro-OLED. Most other pancake optics have two elements, which mate with a flat surface for the polarizers and quarter waveplates that manipulate the polarized light to cause the light to pass through the optics twice (see Meta example below left). Apple has a more complex three-lens optic with curved polarizers and quarter waveplates (below right).

Based on my studies of how the AVP dynamically adjusts optical imperfections like chroma aberrations based on eye tracking, the AVP’s optics are “unstable” because, without dynamic correction, the imperfections would be seen as much worse.

Hypervision RMS Analysis

Hypervision did an RMS analysis comparing a larger LCD panel with a small Micro-OLED. It should probably come as no surprise that requiring about 1.8x (2.56/1.4) greater magnification makes everything more critical. The problem, as Hypervision points out, is that Micro-OLED on silicon can’t get bigger for many years due to semiconductor manufacturing limitations (reticle limit). Thus, the only way for Micro-OLED designs to support higher resolution and wider FOV is to make the pixels smaller and the optics much more difficult.

Hypervision Monte-Carlo Analysis

Hypervision then did a Monte-Carlo analysis factoring in optical tolerances. Remember, we are talking about fairly large plastic-molded lenses that must be reasonably priced, not something you would pay hundreds of dollars for in a large camera or microscope.

Hypervision’s 140 Degree FOV with 60PPD Approach

Hypervision believes that the only practical path to ~60PPD and ~140-degree FOV is with a 2.56″ LCD display. LCDs’ natural progression toward smaller pixels will enable higher resolution than their optics can support.

Conclusion

Overall, Hypervision makes a good case that current designs with Micro-OLED with pancake optics are already pushing the limits of reasonably priced optics. Using technology with somewhat bigger pixels makes resolving them easier, and having a bigger display makes supporting a wider FOV less challenging.

It might be that the AVP is slightly burry because it is already beyond the limits of a manufacturable design. So the natural question is, if AVP already has problems, how could they support higher resolution and wider FOV?

The size of Micro-OLEDs built on silicon backplanes is limited by a reticle limit of chip size of above ~1.4″ diagonally, at least without resorting to multiple reticle “stitching” (which is possible but not practical for a cost-effective device). Thus, for Micro-OLEDs to increase resolution, the pixels must be smaller, requiring even more magnification out of the optics. Then, increasing the FOV will require even more optical magnification of ever-tinier pixels.

LCDs have issues, particularly with black levels and contrast. Smaller illumination LEDs with local dimming may help, but they have not proven to work as well as micro-OLEDs.

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