The Roto VR Explorer is catching the eye of many XR enthusiasts right now – and I can see why. At first glance, a chair that tracks your movement as you spin around in VR may seem like little more than a gimmick. But in my opinion, it’s an interesting alternative to all the other peripherals popping up to tackle the VR locomotion problem.
Over the past couple of years, as more companies and consumers embrace augmented reality, we’ve seen countless new concepts emerge to change the way we navigate virtual spaces. Innovators are introducing VR shoes, omnidirectional treadmills, and even tactile mats.
So why not explore VR chairs too?
London-based Roto VR believes its “Made for Meta” chair will give us a more intuitive and immersive experience in our VR applications, and I’m all for VR comfort.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Roto VR Explorer.
What is Roto VR Explorer?
Roto VR Explorer is a new motorized chair created by Roto VR that can rotate 360 degrees with head movements and sync with in-game audio. Available for $799, it’s one of the more expensive accessories made for Meta devices like the Quest 3.
However, compared to other VR locomotion solutions such as omnidirectional treadmills, this intuitive piece of furniture will be much more accessible to the masses. What sets this chair apart from your standard swivel office chair is the patented look and turn technology, which combines a powerful motorized base with full-body haptic feedback.
The seat also doubles as a handy all-in-one hub station for Quest 3, with a built-in charging port for headphones so you don’t run out of juice mid-session.
Features include:
- 360 degree viewing and turning capabilities
- Motor with 21 revolutions per minute
- Haptic feedback for your entire body
- Integrated charging port
- Cable management system
Roto VR Explorer: Design and comfort
The Roto VR Explorer looks like a standard office chair, if you ignore the bulky, circular base on the bottom. It’s not the most attractive chair I’ve seen, nor is it as comfortable as my standard office chair. However, the design has its benefits.
First of all, this chair has a high quality leather seat with adjustable height options and an adjustable footrest. In addition, even though the oversized wheelbase with its integrated electric motor takes up a lot of space, this chair is more compact than a full-size omnidirectional treadmill.
I’m also a fan of the integrated cable management system, which keeps everything neat and organized while protecting wires. The included charging port is also a handy addition, addressing the common issue of low headphone battery life.
The ‘Look and Turn’ technology built into the chair works very well, automatically turning users in the direction they are looking. However, one small downside is that to move automatically, the seat has to pull information from a hockey-puck-like sensor attached to the top of the helmet. This adds a bit more weight to your head while enjoying VR.
Additionally, the “noise” haptics feel quite nice and are great for giving you that extra sense of immersion in VR settings. Additionally, Roto VR said this chair will be “modular” so users can add accessories for different configurations.
Although the Roto VR Explorer is a “Made for Meta” device, endorsed by Meta itself, it can support other standalone headsets such as the VIVE XR Elite and soon the Apple Vision Pro.
If you want a little more comfort, Roto plans to soon introduce a “Pro” version of the seat, which comes with adjustable arms, a higher backrest and headrest support.
Does Roto VR Explorer improve immersion?
As mentioned above, the Roto VR Explorer isn’t just a VR Locomotion gimmick, it aims to address some of the biggest challenges of actually using a VR headset. First, it can make your VR experiences feel much more immersive — depending on the app you’re using.
Not all VR apps require you to move or even stand up. If you’re enjoying an immersive collaboration session in an app like Microsoft Immersive Spaces, for example, you might just want to sit down at a “virtual desk” and occasionally turn around to look at whiteboards and colleagues.
Unfortunately, looking around at the full “virtual landscape” isn’t always easy when you’re sitting in a standard office chair or couch. The shape of a standard chair usually prevents you from standing up, craning your neck, or using controls to see certain parts of a space.
The Roto VR Explorer addresses this issue, allowing for a more comfortable immersive experience. It even helps you use your arms and hands freely when in VR. Because it has a shorter back than your standard chair, your arms are free to move while you interact with the content.
The rumble pack, which provides force feedback, also boosts immersion in my opinion. This haptic feature could be especially useful for certain games and VR experiences, such as when testing a car or learning how to fly a plane in augmented reality.
Reducing motion sickness in VR
When it announced the Roto VR Explorer, the XR company didn’t just draw attention to how this accessory boosts immersion. They also said that it could help users fight against the problem of “VR disease”.
Roto believes that a chair that supports real-world movements that coincide with what you see in VR will cause less disorientation for your brain. The less disconnect there is between what your body is doing (moving) and what you see in VR, the less likely you are to feel nauseous while wearing the headset. It makes sense.
You might think you can get a similar experience by rotating a regular office chair with your legs. But you’re less likely to get the smooth, streamlined experience that Roto VR offers.
The speed of the chair movement matches the speed and intensity of the head movements. This means that a slight turn of the head will not suddenly jolt you into your seat. Instead, you’ll feel like you’re moving and looking around a space naturally.
Sure, it probably won’t eliminate motion sickness for everyone, but I can definitely see how this accessory will make some VR sessions more comfortable.
A better alternative to VR treadmills?
I doubt that VR chairs like the Roto VR Explorer will eliminate the need for other VR locomotive solutions like VR shoes and treadmills. In situations where you need to stand up and walk around freely in VR, those accessories will definitely help you avoid hitting the walls and give you a more immersive and natural experience.
However, for people who spend a lot of time stand In VR, Roto VR Explorer has a lot of benefits. After all, most of us don’t have the space or money to invest in something as advanced as the Virtuix Omni Arena or Disney’s Holotile Infinite floor.
The large base size of the Roto chair means it probably won’t fit next to your standard computer desk, but you’ll have an easier time finding space for it in your office or home. The chair is modest and compact enough to fit into most setups. Plus, since Roto says you’ll be able to customize the design with add-ons and accessories for years to come, there’s a good chance this seat will appeal to a wide range of VR users.
Is Roto VR Explorer worth it?
Although it is much less expensive and easier to implement in the office or home than a VR treadmill, the Roto VR Explorer is still quite expensive. Priced at around $799, I don’t see every company or individual rushing to buy this accessory right away.
However, if you’re looking for an intuitive way to enhance your XR setup, even if you’re just using the headset for immersive encounters, the VR Explorer might be a good choice. It is already compatible with more than 400 games and apps in the Meta Quest store and is quite comfortable.
Clearly, Roto believes the chair will be a hit. Although still only available for pre-order at the time of writing, the Roto VR Explorer Pro is already in production. In my opinion, this won’t be the last we see of VR or Roto VR seats.
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