Following on final 12 months’s announcement by social VR platform Somnium Area, that they had been going to launch a branded VR headset (which was demoed on the Client Electronics Present held final month), right now one other social VR platform, Bigscreen, unveiled what they’re calling the world’s smallest digital actuality headset: the Bigscreen Past.

Right here’s the requisite, slick teaser promo:

Weighing solely 127 grams, and on the diminutive measurement of 143 mm lengthy by 52 mm huge, the Bigscreen Past goes on presale right now for US$999.00, and the primary models are anticipated to ship within the third quarter of this 12 months.

One disadvantage of this gadget is its comparatively restricted area of view (FOV), 90° by 93°, which many commenters on the r/VirtualReality subreddit group noticed as a dealbreaker. Nonetheless, individuals must do not forget that Bigscreen is primarily a digital house to collect with associates (from each close to and much away) to look at films collectively, and the Past looks as if a logical, light-weight, comfy headset whose major objective is to devour such content material. It’s notable that the Past headset includes a custom-moulded face cushion, and Bigscreen has constructed the mandatory infrastructure with the intention to create these {custom} faceplates, on a fast turnaround, for each purchaser! (The Past additionally makes use of magnetically-attached {custom} lenses for these, like me, who may require imaginative and prescient correction.)

For additional data on the Bigscreen Past, please go to their newly-revamped web site, or be a part of their Discord server.

And I ponder if every other social VR platforms are going to observe the lead of Somnium Area and Bigscreen, and department out into branded digital actuality {hardware}. It’s an intriguing development, and it actually seems like we’re going to see some attention-grabbing new VR headsets enter a market dominated by Meta, with Valve and Vive combating over the rest. 2023 goes to be a enjoyable 12 months!

UPDATE 3:00 p.m.: In fact, the digital actuality {hardware} YouTubers are throughout this announcement, dropping movies they recorded through the pre-release interval, whereas below a press embargo. Right here’s a 20-minute assessment by Adam Savage’s Examined channel, which included a chat with Bigscreen VR’s founder and CEO, Darshan Shankar:

UPDATE Feb. 14th, 2023: I forgot to say one different attention-grabbing reality concerning the Bigscreen Past: you do a scan of your eyes earlier than your gadget is delivered, not just for the custom-fitting face cushion, but additionally to set the IPD (interpupillary distance, i.e. the space between the middle of the pupils) for the headset! The IPD is mounted on the manufacturing facility, and can’t be adjusted after supply.

So, between the {custom} face cushion and the mounted IPD, this isn’t a tool which might be shared between associates, coworkers, or members of the family! It’s really custom-made to your eyes and your face.

Additionally, as you may need guessed from the movies, this isn’t a wi-fi headset. It’s a PCVR gadget, which implies that it should be related to a desktop PC with graphics card. You’ll additionally must shell out for SteamVR equipment similar to hand controllers and base stations, in the event you don’t have already got them; the US$999 solely will get you the headset!