In 2020 Virtuix revealed plans to create a home version of its omni-directional treadmill, a more compact solution called the Omni One. As part of this process, the company launched a Series A-2 financing round, allowing investors to purchase shares in the business whilst being offered a discount on the treadmill when it becomes available. With the round closed, Virtuix has managed to raise $19 million USD towards its launch.
Up to now, Virtuix has concentrated on the commercial market shipping over $10 million worth of omni-directional systems to location-based entertainment (LBE) venues like Dave & Buster’s. Omni One on the other hand is firmly focused on the high-end consumer market, allowing gamers to fully immerse themselves in virtual reality (VR) without the need for a room-scale compatible environment. Coming in with a 4ft diameter the Omni One can be folded up to store away.
The funding round required a minimum investment of $1,000, with investors offered a 20% discount on an Omni One if they wanted one. Over 6,500 investors participated in the round to hit that $19 million. The funds will be used to help build and launch the Omni One which is currently expected to arrive later this year.
“With Omni One, your home becomes a portal into new worlds and gaming adventures like never before,” said Jan Goetgeluk, Virtuix’s founder and CEO in a statement. “For the first time, you’re no longer restricted by the limited space in your home. You can roam endlessly around immersive virtual worlds as you would in real life, using your whole body.”
“We’re impressed by the outpouring of investor support for Omni One,” Goetgeluk added. “More than two million players have experienced the thrill of walking around inside videogames at our commercial venues around the world. Given our success in the out-of-home market, our investors believe we’re well positioned to bring our popular gaming experience to millions of homes around the world.”
The Omni One is mainly going to be sold as an all-in-one entertainment system, combining the treadmill and a standalone headset in the price. For the launch Virtuix will have 30 titles available via a dedicated store, some developed in-house while others have been licensed from third-party developers. And how much does all this cost? To buy the Omni One up front will set you back $1,995, or there’s the monthly payment plan for $55 / month. There will also be a Omni One “Dev Kit” version primarily designed for studios.
As further details of the new Omni One treadmill are released, VRFocus will let you know.