London start-up Roto VR has developed a gaming chair in partnership with Meta that rotates in sync with the VR world with a Meta Quest headset or compatible devices. Its purpose is to make the VR experience more immersive.
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A motor is installed in the circular base of the chair, which can rotate the chair, including a footrest, in a circle around a central axis at a speed of 21 revolutions per minute. Seat height and footrest can be adjusted.
“Look and Turn” operating concept
This concept is called “look and turn”. When the wearer of the VR glasses looks around, the chair moves in that direction. This means that the entire area can be mapped in 360 degrees.
The gaming chair does not communicate directly with the headset. The system comes with a head tracker that resembles a small Poke ball and which the user attaches to their head or a VR headset. The tracker transmits the direction of head movement via Bluetooth to the motor in the base of the chair.
The motor is mounted in a round base. The chair, including the footrest, rotates along a central axis like a desk chair.
test drive with vr game
At CES in Las Vegas we were able to try the Roto VR Explorer with a video game in which you fly in a virtual world like Iron Man. Every movement instantly sets the chair in motion.
Surprisingly, the nausea which otherwise would have occurred immediately did not occur. This obviously has a positive effect in that the head and thus the balance organs are accelerated in the direction that the eye suggests.
The included head tracker connects to the headset and transmits movement data to the motor in the chair via Bluetooth.
Haptic feedback through the seat
The leather seats are also fitted with a “rumble pack”, which enables haptic feedback. To do this, you need to connect the sound output of the headset to the USB port of the head tracker. A jack for USB cable is included.
You can also charge the headset during use via the USB port on the central axis. Roto VR Explorer is said to be compatible with all the applications and games in the Meta Quest store. However, very few apps are likely to provide meaningful use for a rotating chair. Hardcore VR gamers are a conceivable target group – with plenty of wiggle room and change.
Prices and availability
The Roto VR Explorer is available to order now for $799. The manufacturer did not announce the price in euros.
Heise Median is the Official Media Partner of CES 2025.
(AKR)
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