Everyone is talking about the release date of Apple’s virtual reality/augmented reality “spatial computing” headset, the Vision Pro. The obscenely high price tag of almost £3,000 prompted its release for shipment on February 2.
We’ve seen virtual reality and augmented reality gadgets trying to “transform” the gaming business for quite some time; thus, let’s talk about how the Apple Vision Pro may or might not add to that rather faltering trend.
Contrary to the Meta Quest series of gadgets, which has relied significantly on video games for adoption, Apple’s Vision Pro is not doing anything like that. Streaming media to a large screen from any location is one of the basic entertainment capabilities, although the gadget is primarily marketed as a productivity and networking tool. In turn, its gaming aspirations are currently modest; let’s take a closer look.
Apple Vision Isn’t Focussed on Gaming (Yet)
Apple’s nine-minute video for the Apple Vision Pro has only fourteen seconds pertain to gaming even though it seems like someone is using a PS5 controller to play NBA 2K, which is obviously not someone playing a real PS5 game with the pro.
The website details the current gaming objectives of Apple Vision Pro:
“By leveraging the environment, visionOS games in Apple Arcade present entirely new methods to engage in gameplay. Discover over a hundred of your preferred iPad games, and use Bluetooth game controllers to play.”
These games were originally from Apple’s Arcade, but some have been tweaked to work better with Vision Pro. Since everything occurs within the Apple-only OS, it is not like connecting your Xbox, PlayStation, or Switch to a virtual large screen.
Additionally, it is not Meta developing first-party VR games or acquiring third-party VR games to launch on the platform. At this time, and with no announcements about future intentions, it seems that the Apple Vision Pro will not support any of the major virtual reality games you may be familiar with.
Apple may be deviating from the norm with the Vision Pro, but that doesn’t mean gaming won’t be a major selling point. Consider the evolution of the iPad and iPhone. Could the Vision Pro ever mature into a gaming platform on par with Apple’s App Store?
Remember, this is only the beginning. If Apple does its homework, the mixed-reality gaming industry might soon see a boom in creativity. However, unless you enjoy the best slot games to play in the UK and other casino gaming activities, don’t expect to dive into your favourite FPS shooter or RPG on the Vision Pro as of now because this isn’t a primary focus.
It’s not all doom and gloom for gaming enthusiasts, though.
Hands-Free Gaming
The fact that Apple has promised the Vision Pro access to over 250 games on Apple Arcade is encouraging. When most people mention gaming on this headset, you may be thinking of a game that uses the Vision Pro’s mixed-reality capabilities. There has been less activity in that area as well.
Mark Gurman, a reporter at Bloomberg, has published a piece identifying potential obstacles. One major difference between this product and competitors like the PlayStation VR2 is the lack of hand controls.
Gurman mentions Assassin’s Creed and Asgard’s Wrath 2 as examples of popular VR games that feature them, and they may be a simple method to browse certain titles. Gurman thinks players could have a less immersive experience without these controls.
According to Gurman, developers are still waiting for access to the Vision Pro’s motion-sensing and eye-tracking features, which might restrict the selection of applications and games accessible for the device.
For Apple to ensure the success of the Vision Pro as a gaming device, it would be unwise not to allow developers to create games utilising these features. I am optimistic that they will be able to do so in due course.
In addition, the Vision Pro has the advantage of compatibility with Xbox and PlayStation controllers, significantly enhancing players’ gaming experience. Admittedly, these controllers are not specifically designed for VR gaming, which some individuals may see as a disadvantage. However, considering Apple’s statements, it seems that the corporation does not have conventional virtual reality gaming as the primary focus for the Vision Pro.
Apple Isn’t a Gaming Giant
Despite its many achievements, computing powerhouse Apple has never been able to excel in the game sector. Although iPhones catapulted mobile gaming into the public eye, the devices lagged far behind competitors like Nintendo, Steam Deck, and even the cloud streaming and mobile alternatives offered by Xbox and PlayStation.
With the 2019 debut of Apple Arcade, Apple made a deliberate attempt to enter the game industry. Subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus were its intended competitors, but the service’s shortage of games and poor long-term planning led to its demise. Apple Arcade seems to become more of a cemetery for old games once they have extracted some subscription revenue since several titles have lost support within months of introduction.
Apple does not have an exclusive library, and the company is infamously hostile to independent gaming studios. Epic Games removed its games off Apple devices after an epic court spat between Apple and Epic Games about revenue sharing. The Epic Games Launcher’s crippling bugs on Macs have been around for a while before then. Even though MacOS users have the option to download Steam, the selection of games available is somewhat restricted. Like the Epic Games Launcher, the ones they do tend to crash mid-game. When you consider that Apple machines can’t be customised, it becomes evident that PCs are the best choice for desktop gaming.
Gaming on the Apple Vision Pro in the Future
Although Apple may find great success in the gaming industry in the future, the initial iteration of the Vision Pro will not prioritise that focus. You may think the Vision Pro is well worth the investment if you’re an Apple fanatic. However, looking at it from a purely gaming lens, the Vision Pro is now more of a status symbol than a need for serious gamers.
