Whenever a new technology is introduced, it always comes with its high and low points. The recent spike in virtual reality (VR) devices like the Oculus (Meta) Quest, PlayStation VR, and others have introduced gamers new and old into immersive worlds where they can do pretty much anything. The Oculus Quest had a huge spike in sales over the holiday season, helped in part by the slow production of the PlayStation 5. What many looked at as a gimmick seems to be inching closer and closer into mainstream conversations.

VR has a small community that is growing at a very fast pace and in many ways, Mark Zuckerberg and the infusion of cash that supercharged Oculus (Meta) Quest sales. The base model of the Quest starts at $299 and comes with a headset and two wands which make it the best option for someone who was curious about VR and proved a great price point over the recent holiday season. It is estimated that around two million units were sold during the 2021 holiday season. Users are able to have exhilarating experiences like riding roller coasters, relaxing on beaches, and taking boat rides on Italian gondolas from their homes. There are also interactive experiences with games that feature sword fighting, boxing, and paranormal experiences. There are testimonials from dozens of people who credit VR workouts for increased activity, subsequent weight loss, and increased muscle tone.

For many people who are new to any sort of technology, the sparkle can fade quickly. The setup that is involved with VR is not as easy as loading a mobile game or reactivating a console from “rest” mode. The relatively small number of people who own VR makes it unlikely for the average person who identifies as a gamer to find someone to play with.  In January 2022, I spoke with a GameStop employee who mentioned that neither he nor any of his co-workers had even used an Oculus or VR device. The technology has long had a reputation for delivering products that could not stand toe-to-toe with traditional “flat screen” games and without the “wow!” factor and rabid fanbase, triple-A content was hard to come by. As a person new to the technology, it would be easy to become lost in a sea of games to sample via trial and error while hemorrhaging money in the process.

In April 2020, a VR enthusiast and content creator who goes by the username JayBratt held a giveaway to commemorate getting to 1,000 subscribers on his streaming service. After being a longtime fan of gaming, he found the interest waning. “It was around 2007 or 2008 when I started to play games less and less,” he said. That changed in 2013 or 2014 when he saw the Oculus development kit. VR gaming was being developed for a wider audience and when Sony started taking reservations for their PlayStation VR hardware, Jay was one of the first to call dibs. His channel, he says, came from a huge interest in technology and the desire to “share the fun and joy” of VR – and he has found an audience. In February 2022, JayBratt reached 15,000 subscribers on YouTube less than two years after reaching the 1,000-subscriber milestone.

While VR offers great applications like fishing, guided meditation, and a variety of rigorous workouts, there are also places to just go and “hang out” like VRchat, where your avatar could be created to look like a variety of wacky characters. Curious about the application from the short, humorous clips I’ve seen on the Internet, I downloaded the game and “randomized” a character to see if I could sit at the virtual cool kid’s table. Upon entrance to the session, I was immediately “castrated” by another user who approached my avatar, reached out their arm, and said, “this will only hurt a little.”

My instantaneous virtual evisceration, while kind of weird, was nothing close to some reports of sexual harassment and abuse reported in this third-party app, in addition to the use of racial slurs and extremist views. While that type of behavior ruined the play sessions of thousands of Call of Duty players in years past, the behavior is usually squashed and players usually receive the “ban hammer,” thus dissuading future use by the offending player and anyone who would have the sentiment to follow suit. While that behavior is shocking, it should be noted that it is incredibly rare in the VR community overall.

VR looks like it is here to stay and that can be a good thing for a lot of people. The ability to take someone – mentally – miles away from stress and boredom while providing exciting experiences with a device and a relatively small price tag could be a life-changing thing for many. While the coronavirus kept many people away from family gatherings over the past few years, JayBratt and his wife joined with his parents and brother in Rec Room, a social hangout app, with the five of them all in virtual reality for a game of charades.

In the early days of the economic shutdown, my VR device became my home gym, travel guide, and meditation leader. It requires a little bit of work to get started and a lot of effort to stay enthusiastic about it, but it certainly has a lot to offer those who are willing to give it a chance.