A significant moment for VR motion peripherals has arrived. Just an hour after Roto VR unveiled its $799 spinning game chair, Virtuix has announced a launch date for its long-anticipated Omni One VR treadmill: mark your calendars for September 10. This system, priced at $2,595 plus shipping, has been in development for quite a while—over a decade, in fact.
In April of last year, we reported on this system under the headline, “A decade later, this VR treadmill is finally ready to ship.” Technology can sometimes zoom ahead at breakneck speeds. Other times, progress seems to crawl, and hardware startups, more often than not, belong to the latter category.
Over the years, Virtuix has garnered quite a bit of attention. In the VR space, figuring out locomotion remains a major challenge. Convincing your mind that you’re moving while you’re not often leads to an experience that’s far from enjoyable, with common side effects like nausea.
The timeline of Virtuix’s journey aligns with a growing interest in mixed reality, spurred on by Oculus/Meta, HTC, and more recently, Apple, among others. During this period, the startup has managed to secure $40 million through venture capital and individual investment. The Omni One also caught some prime limelight by being featured as a model for a similar device in Steven Spielberg’s film adaptation of “Ready Player One.”
The Omni One is brilliantly straightforward. Instead of using a mechanical treadmill, it offers a passive experience. Users don special shoes and simulate walking by slipping in place over a concave saucer.
“With our official launch date now set for September 10, we’re thrilled to welcome gamers into the Omni One community,” said CEO Jan Goetgeluk in a recent statement. “The enthusiastic feedback from our beta testers fuels our excitement, and we’re eager to introduce the Omni One and redefine gaming experiences for people of all ages.”
During the preorder period, Virtuix successfully sold 3,000 units of the Omni One, signaling strong interest and anticipation for its official release.
