Big news in the world of VR motion accessories today. Shortly after Roto VR unveiled its $799 spinning gaming chair, Virtuix has announced that its highly anticipated Omni One VR treadmill will finally be available on September 10. Priced at $2,595 (plus shipping), this system has been a work in progress for over a decade, making this announcement feel long overdue.
I remember the last time we covered the Omni One, our headline was “A decade later, this VR treadmill is finally ready to ship,” and that was back on April 3 of last year. It’s fascinating how technology often rushes forward at breakneck speed, yet sometimes, it seems to inch along at a snail’s pace. Many hardware startups, unfortunately, find themselves in the latter category.
Over these ten years of development, Virtuix has garnered a significant amount of attention. After all, locomotion remains a tricky challenge in VR. Trying to fool your brain into thinking you’re moving while remaining stationary often leads to less-than-ideal experiences and can even result in unwanted side effects like motion sickness.
The timeline for Virtuix coincides with the burgeoning interest in mixed reality, championed by big names like Oculus/Meta, HTC, and now Apple. The company has managed to raise $40 million through venture capital and private investors. Interestingly, its Omni One treadmill even gained widespread recognition as it was used as the inspiration for a similar system in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of “Ready Player One.”
At first glance, the Omni One might appear to be a straightforward piece of equipment, but it takes a unique approach. Instead of employing a mechanical treadmill, it utilizes a passive system. Users wear special footwear and effectively move in place on a concave saucer design, which creates the sensation of walking.
CEO Jan Goetgeluk expressed the team’s enthusiasm in a statement, saying, “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.”
Virtuix has already sold 3,000 units during its preorder phase, showing strong initial demand for this innovative piece of hardware.
