A significant day has arrived for fans of VR motion peripherals. Just an hour after Roto VR shared news of its $799 spinning game chair, Virtuix finally unveiled a launch date for the Omni One VR treadmill, set for September 10. It’s a reveal that’s been eagerly awaited because this treadmill, priced at $2,595 plus shipping, has been in development for over a decade.
Reflecting back, our previous article about the Omni One had a headline exclaiming, “A decade later, this VR treadmill is finally ready to ship.” That piece was published on April 3 last year. Sometimes, it feels like technology races ahead of us, while other times, progress seems to crawl at a snail’s pace. More often than not, hardware startups fall into the latter category, facing numerous delays and challenges.
Throughout its years of development, Virtuix has garnered a substantial amount of interest. After all, locomotion remains a complicated puzzle in the VR world. Fooling the brain into thinking it’s moving while the body is stationary can lead to less-than-ideal experiences, including potential bouts of nausea.
Virtuix’s journey coincides with a growing fascination with mixed reality, propelled by the likes of Oculus/Meta, HTC, and now even Apple. With a total fundraising of $40 million from venture capital and individual investors, the startup has gathered quite a backing. The Omni One also received some prime attention as it inspired a similar system depicted in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of “Ready Player One.”
What makes the Omni One interesting is its simple, yet clever design. Instead of utilizing a motorized treadmill, it operates passively. Gamers wear special shoes and simulate walking by essentially sliding in place on a concave surface.
“As we prepare for the official launch on September 10, we’re thrilled to invite gamers into the Omni One community,” said CEO Jan Goetgeluk in a statement. “The incredibly positive feedback from our beta users has only heightened our anticipation, and we can’t wait to launch Omni One and revolutionize the gaming experience for everyone.”
Virtuix reports having sold 3,000 units during the preorder phase, indicating a strong start for this long-awaited innovation.
