Popular fitness app Les Mills XR BODYCOMBAT (2022) just got its first paid DLC today, which features a slate of new workouts and features that will keep you swinging and sweating.
Called Power Strike, the $8 content pack includes eight new workouts which feature 22 new songs. Power Strike also includes new cosmetics, as premium environment, and a number of new moves, such as the ‘Power Strike’ and the ‘Final Target’.
Created by Les Mills and Odders Lab, the Power Strike DLC can be purchased both in-game and through the Store. Workouts can be played in both VR and MR modes, which is said to unlock “nearly 90 minutes of new content to help them destroy calories as they punch, kick, block, and strike,” Odders Lab says.
Additionally, the studio says it’s remained committed to supporting the base app with “regular free updates,” which is said to include performance improvements, bug fixes, and quality of life additions.
If you’re in the US, you can also nab an exclusive Meta Quest x LES MILLS XR BODYCOMBAT Fitness Bundle. Available from now until June 30th, you can choose from either the Quest 2 content bundle for $230 or the Quest 3 content bundle for $540, each of which includes the respective headset, Active Straps, and a copy of LES MILLS XR BODYCOMBAT at a reduced price.
The VR headset on the International Space Station is now being used for exercise, in addition to its previous role for mental health.
In November HTC sent a Vive Focus 3 to the ISS on a SpaceX Cargo Dragon autonomous spacecraft launched to bring supplies and experiments to the station as part of NASA's Commercial Resupply Services program.
Vive Focus 3 is HTC's $1300 business-focused standalone headset, which it released in 2021. It uses the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1 chipset as Quest 2 but with significantly higher resolution 2.5K displays, higher resolution than even today's Quest 3 or Pico 4. While HTC released the newer Vive XR Elite headset last year, Focus 3 remains its primary pitch for businesses.
0:00
/5:01
The headset is being used by European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen, who has been on the ISS since August and will soon return to Earth.
Part 1 of the experiment was to test how VR can help with astronaut mental health via 360-degree videos of scenes on Earth like sunsets, swimming with dolphins, and scenic views.
Recently HTC enabled Part 2 of the experiment, using VR for physical fitness. The reduced gravity environment of space causes muscle atrophy and bone density loss, and regular exercise helps mitigate these effects. This is why astronauts typically exercise for at least two hours per day. But the environment of the ISS can be "sterile and cold", Mogensen says, and this is where VR comes in.
The Vive Focus 3 is synced up to the smart exercise bike on the ISS via Bluetooth. As Mogensen sees a 270-degree first-person video of a cyclist on a scenic route from his home country Denmark, which plays back at the speed he's cycling. A metadata track on the video changes the resistance setting of the exercise bike to match the surface and gradient of the track, so Mogensen feels like he's cycling it.
Here's some of what Mogensen had to say about using VR on the ISS:
"We astronauts onboard the space station are living in a very confined artificial laboratory-like environment. It's very sterile, it's very cold, and we don't have access to nature. And that affects our psychological wellbeing."
"I have to be honest, I didn't actually expect it would make much of a difference, but I found that I love wearing this headset. It takes me into nature. It makes me feel like I'm out in nature. That I'm outside of the space station, away from this artificial environment. And it really de-stresses me. It makes me relax. It takes away a lot of the daily stress, and just allows me to re energize. To catch my breath, to feel like I'm back on the earth. It's a really great way to get away from this artificial environment."
"One of my favorite things to do on board the space station is to cycle while wearing the virtual reality headset."
VR Could Be Essential For Deep Space Missions
With NASA's Artemis program aiming to establish a permanent base on the moon later this decade and eventually send humans Mars, VR could become a vital tool to help astronauts escape and relax or exercise on these long-duration missions in deep space. As well as immersive environments that simulate being back on Earth, astronauts could use headsets as personal theatres to enjoy traditional media on a much larger virtual screen than the tiny screens they could take with them.
While HTC's experiment is only 360 videos for now, it could set a precedent for continued astronaut use of VR for both mental and physical health.
Using an XR headset for at-home workouts basically looks like playing Beat Saber: you can duck, dodge, punch or slice to improve cardio and burn fat. With an increasing number of apps that essentially play on that formula, XR startup Vi hopes to change things up by letting you build muscle as well with the help of its upcoming XR glove and, eventually, its own standalone XR headset too.
Founded by serial VR fitness entrepreneur Cix Liv, the new startup Vi (‘virtual eye’) announced late last week it’s building a glove you can wear while pumping iron, letting you automatically do things like log reps and keep track of barbell weights.
Returning to VR. With a Vengeance.
Introducing Vi “virtual eye”. @ViHeadset and gloves designed specifically for fitness.
Joining me are @mentarus who built a VR glove company "Plexus", and @marcusckane our "Jony Ive" of VR.
The company isn’t speaking in-depth about the gloves for now, however Vi’s demo video above seems to suggest it’s still in early prototyping stages, with the render promising a sleeker device.
There is some info to glean from the company’s Discord (invite link) though. Product designer Eugene Nadyrshin says the ostensibly hardware agnostic controller will use custom hand-tracking models together with IMUs for sensor fusion, and include a Linear Resonant Actuators (LRA) at the back of the hand which give vibro-tactile feedback.
“As for openness we want to be as open as possible and you can be assured that we’ll be clear and open about the development journey instead of working behind a closed door for years,” Nadyrshin says, also noting that although the team isn’t making any broad commitment to OpenXR, they’re investigating it.
Image courtesy Vi, Cix Liv
You may recognize the startup’s founder Cix Liv from his other three-lettered ventures YUR, REK, and LIV, the latter of which helped popularize many VR games by letting content creators record themselves playing in the third-person. While many of Cix’s past projects focused on XR fitness, the team wasn’t founded with a fitness-focused mission in mind. Instead, Vi is what Liv calls “a pretty big pivot” from a previous idea of creating an AR app that would use computer vision to automatically price objects in your home to sell online.
And that pivot also includes creating an entire mixed reality headset dedicated to fitness:
“We will ship the gloves, then headset,” Liv writes on X (formerly Twitter). “Sell the headset at cost with a subscription for content. You’ll be able to own part of the company with a community fund-raise. We will eventually open up the cameras on the headset too.”
And why a headset? Liv says that some people need the mental and physical separation from ‘standard’ XR headsets, such as Quest:
So why a headset? Here’s why: Hardware is very hard, but it’s also a moat.
1. Try to hand a middle age person a Quest and say “exercise in this” see how long it takes.
2. Sweat in your headset and then tell me you’re going to jump into a productivity app. Not happening. pic.twitter.com/6yfUgtYOgA
Liv suggests the company can “do most of this with industrial re-design of existing hardware references. Just being hyper focused on specific use-cases, and do initial runs by 3D printing.”
There are indeed some recent reference designs the company can co-opt, such as the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ second gen reference, which Samsung may be using as a base to build its upcoming XR headset. Still, creating a standalone headset with its own operating system and app store that’s entirely separate from Meta’s or Apple’s is going to be a challenge worth watching.
In the meantime, Vi provided a few renders to give us a look at what could be one of the first fitness-focused XR headsets:
Meta's fitness service Supernatural now features pricing that turns a Quest headset into a much more affordable home gym.
The new pricing was announced during Meta Connect last week but we've just gotten around to looking at how the new pricing fits into Meta's overall VR offerings alongside the holiday 2023 push for Quest 2 and Quest 3.
Supernatural used to be priced $19 per month with an annual membership priced $180. Earlier this year, Meta's acquisition of the fitness service closed after a 15-month delay and Supernatural's new pricing could mark the start of a major new push from the company to support exercise and working out in VR more.
As an independent startup, Supernatural added family plans and merchandise including a simple floor mat that could help center you in your workout space. Celebrities like Elliot Page have become big proponents of the service and we've wondered whether there's potential for virtual gyms to one day be a bigger business than their physical equivalents. For those who haven't tried it yet, Supernatural is very similar to Beat Saber – with lots of popular music available – but it is tuned specifically for exercising, with coaches who talk you through your workouts with motivating words.
Meta pricing Supernatural at $100 per year (or $9.99 per month) alongside the $300 Quest 2 and $500 Quest 3 is already a tempting offer, but it might be just the beginning for the company's aspirations.
New accessories like Meta's charging station for Quest 3 or the Anker Charging Dock for Quest 2 can keep VR ready to go at a moment's notice, just like any other workout equipment you might have in your home. Next year, Supernatural should support Meta's persistent digital objects called Augments, so "you can put a digital portal next to your physical workout gear so every time you walk by it you can easily jump into a Supernatural workout," as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained during the Connect keynote.
0:00
/
Is Meta getting ready to ask gym rats how much time and money they're spending per year on memberships when you factor in the cost of gas to get there? With rumors of a lower cost Quest planned for next year and Supernatural at a new low price, a Quest VR headset may be ready to answer Apple's Fitness+ service sooner rather than later.
Fitness has become a huge part of the Meta Quest experience, whether that’s a casual rhythm videogame or a far more serious, workout-focused app. Keeping track of everything since 2020 is Oculus Move, giving you basic in-headset stats such as Move minutes and estimated calories burnt. Now the Move app is getting an upgrade, adding new features such as phone and Apple Heath integration.
With Apple hosting its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) yesterday, announcing new health features for its watch and iPhone platforms, Meta’s has got in on the action by giving users the option to sync their stats with Apple Health. Whether you’re working out in virtual reality (VR) or not, you’ll be able to sync everything together, automatically tracking those fitness routines on your iPhone or Apple Watch.
How to set up Move with Apple Health
“Connect Move with the Oculus mobile app,” (see below).
“Tap on the “Connected Apps” tab at the top.”
“Tap on the toggle next to “Apple Health” to enable syncing. You need to provide permissions for both “Active Energy” and “Workouts” to fully enable this feature.”
For non-Apple users, the Oculus Move app has become easier to use as it now integrates with the mobile app, a feature Meta previously revealed back in March 2022. So you can now see all your stats without having to jump into VR all the time.
How to set up Move on the Oculus App
“From the Move app in VR, tap on Settings in the bottom right corner.”
“Scroll down to “Connect Move to Oculus Mobile App” and toggle the switch on.”
“Your Move stats, including information like Move minutes, calories burned, and goals, will be encrypted and stored on our servers so you can track your fitness progress from the Oculus mobile app.”
“You can disconnect your Move stats from the Oculus mobile app at any time by going to your Move settings, and toggling the switch off for “Connect Move to Oculus Mobile App” while in-headset.”
When it comes to fitness on Meta Quest you’ve got plenty of software and hardware accessory options to pick from. Join up with monthly subscription workout apps like Supernatural and FitXR, or grab controller grips and new silicone facial interface covers to wipe the sweat away.
All these features have now begun to roll out, so you may not see them appear right away. For continued updates for Meta Quest, keep reading gmw3.
With its focus on virtual reality (VR) fitness, FitXR for Meta Quest not only offers energetic workouts but also the chance to exercise with professional athletes. Having seen Guinness World Record Holder Zion Clark join earlier in the year, for June FitXR welcomes two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and WBO World Champion, Nicola Adams.
Celebrating Pride month, Adams is a professional boxer and LGBTQ+ advocate and spokesperson, supporting the community by making fitness universally accessible and inclusive. Nicola kicks off FitXR’s Pride celebration with her first Box class, Boxing Gold, running through June. Additionally, Nicola will lead Box and Warm Up Cool Down classes to be released on a monthly basis.
“I’m delighted to call myself a FitXR trainer,” said Adams in a statement. “I’m a big gamer and I obviously love to work out so FitXR brings together two of my personal passions. My hope is that I can inspire people to get more active to build and maintain a healthy lifestyle. I’d also like to help grow confidence and show that fitness can indeed be fun.”
Away from her boxing career, Adams appeared on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing breaking new ground for the show with the first-ever same sex pairing. Whilst her documentary Lioness: The Nicola Adams Story premiered on Amazon Prime late last year.
“Our mission at FitXR is to offer inclusive fitness for all so we’re proud to support and educate via Pride-themed class content during this important month of acknowledgement and celebration,” said Kelly Cosentino, Director of Fitness at FitXR. “We’re also thrilled to add the amazing and inspirational Nicola Adams to our roster of talented trainers. And it’s wonderful to have Garret back with us, as he was always a FitXR member-favourite. It’s shaping up to be an exciting month and the team at FitXR is here for it!”
In addition to Nicola’s involvement, FitXR will be adding further Pride-themed content. There’s a new Rooftop Pride environment for the Box, HIIT and Dance studios this month, music from LGBTQ+ unsigned artists; FitXR trainers Karma and Frida will host two vogue-inspired dance classes, House of Stylz and House of Passion, and previous FitXR trainer Garret Caillouet returns with HIIT class Powered by Pride.
FitXR is a subscription-based fitness app exclusive to the Meta Quest platform with a 7-day free trial to test it out. After that, it’ll cost you $9.99 USD a month to continue the membership. For continued updates, keep reading gmw3.
Quest’s latest fitness app Liteboxer has added a new free tier to its subscription model, giving users unlimited access to a selection of workouts without committing to the premium paid tier.
Liteboxer launched two months ago as another paid fitness subscription service on Quest, following in the footsteps of similar offerings from Supernatural and FitXR, available for $18.99/month with a seven-day trial period. Two months on, the service is now offering a free tier as well. While Supernatural and FitXR both offer seven-day trials, Liteboxer is the first to offer a tier for unlimited free access. It includes unlimited access to over 65 workouts, including some with real trainers and music from “chart-topping artists.”
That being said, the service’s Universal Music partnership featuring tracks from high-profile artists like Lady Gaga, Ariane Grande and more is exclusive to the paid $18.99/month subscription. Alongside premium music, the paid subscription grants access to 300+ workouts, daily content and extra workout environments.
While most VR fitness apps feature some form of virtual boxing, the Liteboxer service is actually a virtual adaptation of a physical product. Ironically, the physical Liteboxer works similar to a VR rhythm game – you punch a circular arrangement of six targets as they light up to the beat of music tracks.
Liteboxer VR brings this full circle, allowing you to box against a virtual version of machine, set to a variety of music tracks. The app supports hand tracking as well, so you can put the controllers down and gets as close to the real thing as possible. Support for Hand Tracking 2.0 has also been implemented, so your punches should be tracked more reliably than ever.
Falls ihr auf der Suche nach einem neuen Fitness-Spiel für die Virtual Reality seid, dann solltet ihr einen Blick auf LES MILLS Bodycombat für Meta Quest werfen. Das Spiel erfindet zwar das Rad nicht neu, ist aber sehr motivierend und hochwertig produziert.
LES MILLS BODYCOMBAT für Meta Quest 2 ausprobiert
In LES MILLES Bodycombat für Meta Quest bringt euch ein VR-Workout, welches von Martial Arts inspiriert ist. Ihr zerschlagt Ziele mit den Fäusten, zerschmettert sie mit eurem Knie und weicht unterschiedlichen Hindernissen aus.
Was zunächst vielleicht unspektakulär klingt, macht wahnsinnig viel Spaß. Der Grund hierfür: Die Trainier motivieren und geben Tipps, als ständen sie tatsächlich neben euch. Hierdurch entsteht eine tolle Dynamik, die euch die Realität vergessen lässt. Hinzu kommt, dass die Workouts in einer Gruppe mit Punkteliste ausgetragen werden. Durch diese Rangliste entsteht ein spannendes Rennen um die Führung, da diese mit jedem Schlag aktualisiert wird und zusätzlich motiviert.
Aktuell bietet das Spiel insgesamt 30 unterschiedliche Workout und 5 unterschiedliche Spielwelten. Aufgerufen wird ein einmaliger Preis von 29,99 Euro. Ein Abo wie bei anderen Fitness-Apps ist nicht nötig. Weitere Inhalte sollen per kostenlose Updates folgen. Hier findet ihr das Spiel im Store von Meta für die Meta Quest. Falls ihr noch keine Meta Quest besitzt, findet ihr hier unseren Langzeittest zur VR-Brille.
Die Meta Quest 2 ist in Deutschland aktuell nicht verfügbar. Ihr könnt sie aber über Amazon Frankreich bestellen. Wie das geht, erfahrt ihr in unserer kurzen Anleitung.
