Gamers looking for a more immersive VR experience in their own home could finally get it with Virtuix. omnione. Virtuix has been developing the treadmill-like gaming machine for years, and following crowdfunding campaigns, Omni One recently began making its way to backers. Now Virtuix is initiating another round of funding that it has announced will be leveraged to launch Omni One to the general public later this year.
You may remember the Omni, which launched on Kickstarter in 2013 and was backed within 24 hours. The Omni One is modeled after the Omni Pro, a larger but similar version available at entertainment venues around the world. The round or omnidirectional treadmill measures four feet wide by five feet long and weighs about 250 pounds. The security bit enters via a vertical bar that holds a shoulder and waist strap, with the latter having a controller positioned on either side. It allows users to run, walk, kneel, and even jump through a video game. The Omni One can also be folded flat when not in use.
The Omni One will start at $2,595 plus shipping for the treadmill and a Pico Neo 3 VR headset, customized specifically for the Omni One. The price is slightly higher than Virtuix’s initial projection of $1,995. Investors receive a 30 percent discount on the listing price.
It should be noted that while the company says compatibility with other VR games may come later, Virtuix plans to offer its own games through its own store. There will be 30 titles available at launch, but the company shared in a Facebook post that it has a ‘short list’ of around 200.
While the Omni One should be available to customers later this year, it’s unclear how many models will be produced. According to Virtuix, 900 “investors” applied to buy beta units and there are currently 35,000 general subscribers on the waiting list.
