Oculus Rift S Holiday Gift Guide: Accessories, Games, And More For The PC VR Headset

The Oculus Rift S (read our headset review) is one of the best PC VR headsets on the market due to its affordability, ease of use, comfort, and sharper resolution over its predecessor. We’ve put together this list for recommendations on accessories, games, and more for Oculus’ flagship PC VR headset.

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Being priced at just $399 typically (and getting knocked down to $349 for Black Friday) makes the Oculus Rift S a hard value to beat. The inside-out tracking cameras make it so you don’t need to set up any external sensors or cameras at all to have it work. All you need to do is plug in your headset and you’re good to go.

Out of the box it comes with two Oculus Touch controllers that let you move your hands, pick up things, and interact with objects in the virtual world. The Insight tracking system makes it simple to draw your boundary on the ground so you don’t accidentally punch your TV or walk into a door. It’s really a great, intuitive user experience.

Plus, the Oculus Rift S works natively with the Oculus Home store, Steam, and Viveport.


oculus rift s

Where To Buy The Oculus Rift S

Usually the Oculus Rift S costs $399, but starting Thursday, November 28th until December 2nd it’ll be knocked down to just $349, which is the first discount we’ve seen since the headset launched earlier this year. According to Oculus, you’ll be able to buy the PC VR HMD at that price from Amazon, LenovoOculus, and Best Buy.

 

Oculus Rift S PC VR System Specs

We’ve got a dedicated guide to help you figure out if your PC is VR ready, but for a quick glance at the raw numbers of what you should look for on your rig take a look, according to the official Oculus website, at the image embedded above.

 

Games And Apps To Buy And Install

When you first set up your Oculus Rift S it’s tempting to dive into the deep end of PC-based VR immediately, but we’d actually recommend taking things a tiny bit slower. There is an excellent First Steps app to get you acclimated, as well as an older one named First Contact. Both are free.

After that you can explore your Oculus Home environment, decorate it if you wish, and then start looking into other applications.

The obvious choices are the free ones, like Rec Room and VRChat, which are sort of social networks full of worlds to explore, games to play, and people to meet with your own customized avatar. Then over on Steam there are tons of free VR experiences and games worth trying, such as Google Earth VR, The Lab, Oculus Dreamdeck, Dear Angelica, Henry, Waltz of the Wizard, Accounting, Bigscreen, AltspaceVR, Mission: ISS, and more.

For a curated list of recommended Rift games that are paid, check our best list that we try to keep updated. As of the time of this writing it’s missing recent games like Asgard’s Wrath, Stormland, and Pistol Whip though — which you should totally play.

 

oculus thanksgiving collection 2019

The Oculus Thanksgiving Collection

For the next few days, Oculus is running a special promotion with a collection of five bundled Rift games – The Climb, Arizona Sunshine, Elite Dangerous: Commander Deluxe Edition, Defector, and Racket: Nx. These games would usually add up to nearly $200 if you bought them separately, but are available in the bundle for just $84.99 until November 28th at 9pm PT which is an amazing deal if you want all the games included.

Plus — if you already own some of the games in the collection, it’s actually prorated to be cheaper for you since you’d only need to buy the games you don’t have. This a great selection of games at such a low price, and features quite a few different experiences for someone who just purchased a Rift S. You can view the collection on the Oculus Store.


 

Accessories

So if you’re definitely going to buy a Rift S for yourself or someone else — or already own one — then you’re probably curious about accessories and other things that can help enhance your experience overall. We’ve got you covered there too.

Here are some things to consider:

 

Headphones

The biggest omission from the Oculus Rift S (especially compared to the original Rift) is the lack of included headphones. Similar to the Oculus Go and Oculus Quest, it instead include speakers in the sides of the head-strap itself to provide audio for both you and those around you. The problem is that it’s just not very good. If you want an actual over-ear solution instead that you can just clip onto the headband itself and leave on as a dedicated part of your device, then we highly recommend the Bionik Mantis headphones, which were actually designed for the PSVR but fit the Rift S as well.

Buy the Bionik Mantis Detachable Headphones for $41.

 

AMVR VR Stand and Headset Display

AMVR Quest Stand

This display unit promises a nice stand to place your Rift S headset and hang your Touch controllers. This looks like a nice option if you’re want to store the Rift S on display next to some other gaming consoles, or even other VR headsets. The stand is compatible with the Oculus Quest as well, so you can change the headsets out if you have both.

The AMVR VR Stand and Headset Display is available for $19.

 

Lens Protector

Quest lens protector

If you’re looking for something to fit securely into the headset, protecting the lenses, then maybe try this lens protector from Orzero. While we haven’t tested it ourselves, it has favorable reviews on Amazon. You may have to turn the headset off fully when not in use if the lens protector activates the headset’s proximity sensor.

The Orzero VR Lens Protect Cover is available for $10.99.

 

Ceiling Cables

Obviously one of the biggest downsides to using a PC VR headset is that, typically, it means having a thick, restrictive wire coming off the side of your face that makes it difficult to move freely and is often a tripping hazard. One solution to this for the Rift S is to install a ceiling pulley system so that your cable loops up through the ceiling mount and then goes back down to your PC to get it out of the way. We haven’t used these in our own home setups, but this has great reviews and is widely recommended.

The VeeR VR Cable Management Ceiling Pulley System is available for $17 right now (usually ~$30.)

 

Rifle Stock For Touch Controllers

rift s magni stock rifle adapterIf you play a lot of shooters or are interested in getting into the VR FPS scene with games like Onward, Pavlov, and Contractors then you could stand to gain a lot in terms of immersion and also just pure enjoyment by using a dedicated Rifle Stock. These devices let you slot in your VR controllers and hold it, cradled in your shoulder, like you would an actual two-handed rifle. We haven’t tried this particular one but it’s got good reviews and looks to be a good fit for Rift S Touch controllers.

The Magni Stock Rifle Adapter is available for $74 (usually ~$85.)

 

VR Cover Accessories

rift s vr cover

VR Cover is a company that’s been around for a while and is known for making accessories designed to make headsets feel more comfortable against the face as well as improve hygiene. We have tested their Quest covers and original Rift covers in the past, but have not tried the Rift S-specific covers. They don’t offer leather covers for Rift S yet, only washable cloth ones, but it could still be a good improvement especially if you sweat in VR a lot.

 

Kiwi Knuckle Straps

kiwi knuckle straps quest

This strap modification accessory for the Oculus Touch controllers make them a little bit more like Index Controllers – they’ll stay secured to your hand even if you’re not gripping them. While we haven’t tested them ourselves, these look to be a good option if you’re expecting some longer play sessions.

The Kiwi Design Knuckle Straps are available for $19.99.

 

Microfiber Cleaning Cloths

microfiber cleaning cloths

If you’re using your Rift S a lot, the lenses are going to get foggy and dirty and you’ll want some microfiber cloths to quickly clean the lenses between games and sessions.

You can buy a set of 5 microfiber cleaning cloths for $7.49.

 

Carrying Case

rift s carrying case

Since the Oculus Rift S is not a portable headset really, by design, and requires a capable VR PC to operate, it’s probably not the type of headset you’ll travel with very often. That being said, maybe you use a laptop for VR and do travel often enough that you’d need a dedicated carrying case for your Rift S, in which case (pun intended) this looks like a very good option. We haven’t tried it, but it’s got good user reviews.

The co2crea Hard Travel Case Replacement for Oculus Rift S is available for $40.


This post was updated with information about the Oculus Thanksgiving Sale after publication.

If you have accessories you’ve found improve your experience with Oculus Rift S please share in the comments. 

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The 2018 Buyer’s Guide To The Best PSVR Accessories And Games

The 2018 Buyer’s Guide To The Best PSVR Accessories And Games

The Holiday season for 2018 is finally upon us and with it comes lots of deals, a shopping frenzy, and plenty of new toys and gadgets under the Christmas tree. If you picked up a new PSVR headset on Black Friday last month or have plans to get one this holiday season, then we’ve got you covered with our buying guide full of recommendations for the PSVR headset, its top accessories, and the best games on the device so far after over two years.

We’ve separated the guide with nice, big headers so it should be easy to navigate!

PSVR Headset Buying Guide

Sony’s PSVR headset is now officially two years old! Over those two years hundreds of games have hit the platform and its earned the rank as the most popular non-mobile VR device on the market with over three million units sold. That’s a big achievement. Despite the limited tracking and relatively under-powered hardware in comparison to expensive gaming PCs, the PSVR is a great platform full of creativity.

Which PSVR Model To Get?

You may not realize it, but there are actually two models of the PSVR headset. We covered both in our full, in-depth PSVR headset review. The original model (CUH-ZVR1) has a cord extending from the headset down to a breakaway connection with volume controls, mic mute, and a power button inline along the cord itself. There is also no HDR-passthrough, meaning if you want to play games with HDR settings on your PS4 Pro and 4K TV, you have to unplug the processor unit to do so.

However, the newer model PSVR headset (CUH-ZVR2) is the new standard model in all modern bundles and packages. This device has the volume, mic, and power buttons on the headset itself underneath the visor and along the headstrap, as well as a single long cord that goes all the way from the headset to the processor unit directly. Finally, this device does allow for HDR-passthrough, so you don’t need to unplug the PSVR to use HDR settings on your PS4 Pro and 4K TV.

Visually and in terms of performance/tracking these devices are identical. If you don’t have a 4K TV or a PS4 Pro then you have zero reason to upgrade, but if you do own those more advanced pieces of tech then you might want to for convenience. If you are just now looking to buy a device, now you know the difference.

You Need The PS4 Camera

Regardless of which model or bundle you buy, you need to make sure you have the PS4 Camera otherwise you cannot use the PSVR at all, whatsoever. You can have either the old, original PS4 camera (shown above, it’s rectangular) or the newer circular model — they’re literally identical in terms of technology and performance. Whichever comes with your headset is fine, or if what you bought does not include a camera then you must also buy one.

PSVR Bundles

There are lots of great PSVR bundles out there. Most recently are the two bundles shown above, which include either both Astro Bot and Moss (excellent top-down view third-person platformers that really show the creativity of the platform) or both Creed and Superhot VR (two super-active motion controlled games that are guaranteed to get you sweating). Either bundle is a great choice, but if you can’t decide then I actually recommend the bundle that comes with Move controllers. This way you have them for other VR games that use the devices (like Job Simulator or Skyrim VR) and you can just buy Astro Bot and/or Moss separately.

There are other bundles too, such as the Borderlands 2 VR + Beat Saber and PS Move bundle, Skyrim VR bundle, or the bundle with just a headset and camera.

Should You Get A PS4 Pro For The PSVR?

The honest answer  about a PS4 Pro is…maybe? It really depends. If you have a 4K TV already and you can take advantage of the Pro’s other benefits for non-VR games, then probably. But if you don’t have a 4K TV and you’re just looking into a Pro for its VR benefits, then it’s a little more up in the air. While the Pro undeniably does improve visuals and make PSVR games overall run and look a bit better, the bump in quality isn’t dramatic in most cases.

If visuals aren’t the most important thing to you and you don’t feel like spending a few hundred extra dollars, then don’t. You could put that money towards other things on this list!

PSVR Accessories Buying Guide

That’s not it though, just because you have a fancy PSVR headset doesn’t mean you’re ready to dive into the immersive realm of virtual reality just yet. You need accessories of course!

PSVR Controllers

All PS4 owners already have a DualShock 4 gamepad which can be used with most VR games. Titles like Moss, Astro Bot, The Persistence, Resident Evil 7, and lots of others are all gamepad-focused games so you’re all set there. But what if you want to reach out and touch the digital world? That’s where the PS Move comes into play.

Lots of bundles come with Move controllers now, so I’d recommend one of those just to get the most value, but if you don’t have them already then you definitely should get them so you can play some of the best games in the list down below.

Beyond that you absolutely need to get a PS Aim controller to play the best PSVR shooters the way they were intended.  Games like Firewall Zero Hour, Farpoint, Arizona Sunshine, and DOOM VFR are infinitely better when played with the PS Aim. You can even grab a bundle that includes Firewall with the PS Aim controller for the price of a single, standard non-VR game.

PSVR Add-Ons

There is a nice assortment of add-ons you can buy for PSVR as well. Pictured above are the Bionik Mantis on-ear headphones that clip onto the headband of the PSVR headset and hang down over your ears just like the Rift or Vive’s Deluxe Audio Strap. All you do is clip them on and plug it into the headphone jack. The PSVR has a built-in microphone so you’re good to go and don’t need to fuss with headphones every time you use the device anymore.

Additionally, if you’re a big racing fan and enjoy games like Gran Turismo: Sport or DriveClub VR, then I highly recommend the Thrustmaster T300RS GT Edition racing wheel and pedals combo. The force feedback is great, it’s got a hefty weight to everything, and feels excellent in your hands.

If you’ve got the aforementioned PS Aim Controller then we highly recommend investing a bit of cash to improve it with a stock. The Aim Controller is an excellent peripheral, but it’s too short. There is no stock at the back of the rifle to cradle in your arm, so we recommend grabbing one of these if you’re big into VR shooters.

Finally, for storage, this is a great deluxe case that will let you bring it along to other people’s homes to demo VR (that’s the only way to truly convince someone of the magic).

PSVR Docks And Stands

When it comes to stands/docks we have two main recommendations: one is based on style and one is based on function. If you want a super stylish and classy-looking stand, then look no further than the Cybust, pictured above. It looks like the disembodied head of an enemy from Superhot VR, which is fitting. They’re nice and hefty, making them great for propping up your multi-hundred dollar set of goggles for all to see.

But if you’re looking for something more functional, that’s the PowerA Charge & Play Display Station. This thing is excellent. Not only does it have a hook for your PSVR to sit on, but you can clip the DualShock 4 and two Move controllers into the sockets so they charge when not in use, ensuring your battery never dies mid-game.

Best PSVR Games Buying Guide

Now we’ve reached the big finale of our guide: the very best PSVR games available! We split this into two sections: free games and paid games. The free games are a great starting point since it will help you figure out what types of experiences you like best in VR before shelling out cash for premium products.

Best Free PSVR Games, Experiences, and Demos

Let’s keep this simple: we’ll list the game/experience, summarize it, and give you a link to learn more. These aren’t in-depth reviews here:

Free Games
Rec Room:
This is a social VR app that drops you into cartoon gymnasium where you can dress up, hang out with friends, and play a variety of games like dodgeball, paintball, and even go on quests to slay monsters and fight pirates. It’s one of the most varied content lineup in all of VR and it’s totally free.

Playroom VR: This is a small, free collection of short demo-style experiences that are designed around local cooperative and competitive gameplay. It’s especially excellent for parties and a must-download for all new PSVR owners.

Dark Eclipse: Do you like playing MOBAs like League of Legends or DOTA2? Then check out Dark Eclipse, it’s totally free and made for VR. While not the best game ever, it’s decent. Here’s our full review.

Megalith (Beta): If you like Overwatch, then this free beta is worth checking out for Megalith this month ahead of the game’s launch. It’s a hero shooter, but all in VR. Read our preview.

The Last Guardian VR: The Last Guardian is a moving and mesmerizing game and its VR spin-off, while brief and limited, is a glimpse at what it could be like to visit that magical world.

Spider-Man: Homecoming VR: If this weren’t free it wouldn’t be on this list because it’s not that great, but we’ll take any chance to be Spider-Man a little that we can get.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare – Jackal Assault Mission: A short but very high-quality space-based dogfight mission. Very intense and fun for what it is.

 

Free Game Demos

Demo Disc 1 and Demo Disc 2: These are both jam-packed full of game demos. Highly, highly recommended so you can see what sorts of games you might be interested in.

MossDefinitely one of the best VR games to date and undoubtedly one of the very best third-person VR game so far, Moss is charming, exciting, and a blast to play — even if it is far too short. Read our full review and check out the demo.

Tethered: Sort of like a cute little Lemmings meets God Game island management thing. Neat little demo for a pretty good game.

Apex Construct: The VR market is full of short wave shooters and social VR sandboxes without much content, but Apex Construct is an actual single player story with a fun bow and arrow mechanic to play through. Read our full review for more.

Until Dawn: Rush of Blood: Part horror game and part gallery shooter, Rush of Blood is still one of the best all-thrill and no-chill experiences out there. It’s just full-speed terrifying from start to finish. Read our full review.

 

Free Non-Game Experiences

Allumette:This VR short film is gorgeous and heart-wrenching in all the right ways.Must-see.

Invasion!: One of the first well-known VR shorts and it doesn’t disappoint with great humor and charm. It’s been downloaded over one million times across all platforms for a reason.

Crow: The Legend: From the same studio as Invasion, this is a Native American-inspired tale that is sure to leave your jaw on the floor. Another essential VR experience.

 

Other Free Non-Game Apps

YouTube: This one is so obvious it’s easy to forget, but there are tons of great 360 and 3D videos on YouTube that are a blast to watch inside the headset.

Within: Sort of like YouTube, but specifically for VR content. Lots of cool videos to watch.

Littlstar VR Cinema: Similar to Within — more free video content!

Jaunt: Yep, you guessed it. More free VR content.

NextVR: Like sports? Check this out.

Best Paid PSVR Games and Experiences

We have a whole entire list dedicated to our favorite PSVR games, you can see that here. It’s constantly updated to reflect what we think are the current top 9 best available. If you scroll down to the bottom you can see past entries for other recommendations as well.

For now, I’ll just highlight a few stand outs:

Astro Bot: Rescue Mission: He’s an adorable little robot and he’s the mascot the PSVR deserves. This 3D platformer is part Mario and part VR genius. Read our full review!

Beat Saber: You probably know about this one already. It’s DDR with lightsabers and it’s amazing. Read our full review!

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR: One of the largest and most expansive video game worlds ever crafted, but in VR. This one is a no-brainer. Read our full review!

Firewall Zero Hour: This is basically Rainbow Six Siege in VR and with a PS Aim controller it’s just pure magic. Read our full review!

Remember though: check here for the full list.


There you go! This concludes your 2018 buyer’s guide to the PSVR. If you’ve got any questions at all

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Oculus Go Standalone VR Headset, Accessory And Game Buying Guide

Oculus Go Standalone VR Headset, Accessory And Game Buying Guide

Oculus Go is an all-in-one VR headset — it is a “standalone’ with no need for a PC or phone — and it comes with simple 3DoF movement tracking for both the headset and its single hand controller.

This means Oculus Go is best used seated and many of the most compelling VR games like Beat Saber and Superhot will never work on this system. Even so, Oculus Go can be quite compelling for private video viewing or for occasional games. Here’s our guide to the headset itself, accessories you might want to think about and the first games and experiences you should buy for the headset if you decide to pick one up.

What is Oculus Go?

Oculus Go’s $200 pricing was leaked in mid-2017, but the headset was formally revealed at the Oculus Connect 4 VR developer’s conference. The system started shipping in May 2018 starting at $200 in two versions that differ only in storage capacity — either 32 GB or 64GB for around $250.

Facebook advertises Oculus Go as supporting more than 1,000 apps and games because it is built on the framework the company built years earlier for the Samsung Gear VR. Millions of people received Gear VR bundled for free with the purchase of a Samsung phone, but because the VR mode on these phones drained power so quickly not many people wanted to expend the energy and time to use their phone this way.

While it doesn’t require a phone to operate, Oculus Go uses an app on Android and iPhone to manage the headset and activate a casting feature so that a friend can see what the player in VR sees. Oculus Go features integrated audio, so it has a microphone built in and sound comes out of the sides of the headset near the ears. You can also connect standard 3.5 mm headphones.

Advice: Oculus Go is a dedicated standalone VR headset that solves some of the problems facing phone-based VR combined with the strongest library of content you will find in this price range.

32 GB or 64 GB

The best VR games available on Oculus Go range in size considerably from Virtual Virtual Reality at 315 MB to Eclipse: Edge of Light at around 1 GB. Hopefully, apps like Netflix add support for locally downloaded videos but that’s not the case as of this writing, so there isn’t a huge reason to upgrade for the extra storage since you can re-download apps at any time.

As long as you’ve got solid Wi-Fi connectivity, there’s YouTube VR and Netflix apps as well as a robust Internet browser for other Web-based services and videos. If you’re not connected to the Internet, Oculus offers video rentals and purchases that can be locally downloaded and it is possible to sideload content onto the device with some work.

Advice: 32 GB is plenty of storage for most Oculus Go owners, but if you opt to buy 64 GB it is because you like having lots of local content and are expecting to store lots of videos internally on the headset itself.

Battery Pack

An Anker Powercore battery pack we’ve been able to fit into the official Oculus Go carrying case.

Oculus Go’s internal battery is non-removable and lasts two hours or more depending on what you’re doing.

The headset also features a micro USB connector, which is usually the same connector found on most portable battery packs. This means if you have a 3-5 foot USB cable with a micro USB connector on it, you should be able to put the battery pack in your pocket and run the cord up to the headset to charge it up while using it.

Advice: A battery pack is incredibly useful for extending the battery life of Oculus Go and having a charged up pack on hand can mean the difference between using the headset and deciding now isn’t the right time.

Carrying Case

There are a number of carrying cases you can get for Oculus Go ranging from unofficial ones priced around $20 to the official case, pictured below, priced at $35.

Advice: We’ve tested both these travel cases with Oculus Go and each provides ample room for a battery pack, cords, controller and the headset itself. You won’t be able to fit a gamepad in these cases but it’s not exactly a necessity to carry that with Go.

Gamepads

A gamepad isn’t necessary for Oculus Go and there aren’t a ton of games which utilize it. Even so, it is possible to connect a PS4 controller, some Xbox One controllers and even the Nintendo Switch Pro controller to Oculus Go. At the time of this writing, Minecraft VR isn’t officially supported on Go and that would be the biggest reason to prioritize connecting a controller to the system.

Advice: Most Oculus Go buyers probably shouldn’t bother with a gamepad, but for those that need it you can certainly connect one.

Best Free Apps And Games

There is some really engaging free software that can you can download to Oculus Go for a taste of what the headset offers. For example, Face Your FearsBigscreenPet LabBait! and Guided Meditation VR, are all free up front and provide a nice cross-section of the kinds of experiences and interactions that are possible with Oculus Go.

Also be sure to check out free family-friendly Oculus-backed projects like HenryCoco VR and Crow: The Legend.

Advice: Start with these free apps and games when you first get the headset then move along to the paid games.

Best Paid Games

The pathway from Gear VR to Oculus Go means a number of developers have honed the design of their VR games for this headset over a number of years. But for quality gaming on Oculus Go you’ll want to take a closer look at the following titles in the Oculus Store:

Advice: If you’re new to VR games we suggest starting with a friend playing Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes and then see which of the other games on the above list look interesting to you.

Sideloading Content

We have to warn that sideloaded apps are not vetted by Oculus. Nonetheless, it is certainly possible for you to install them at your own risk, just keep in mind that they could affect the security or stability of your headset.

We provide that warning up front because well-made Android apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video — apps which let you download videos for offline viewing — are important enough to some people that taking the risk of sideloading content is worth it.

Advice: Check out our step-by-step guide for how to sideload content onto Oculus Go if you decide you need to have a few apps that aren’t available from the Oculus Store.

Updated Dec. 21, 2018 with content sideloading advice.

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