Over the years, the Overclockers UK Blog has written a heck of a lot about VR gaming, tech, and weird stuff happening in virtual lands. Today, we’ve brought together all of that content into one handy place. Welcome to Overclockers UK’s Ultimate Guide To VR!
We’ve come a long way since Nintendo’s Virtual Boy, and there has never been a better time to get into VR gaming. In this article, you’ll find the best of our VR content, including game reviews, hardware breakdowns and everything you need to know about virtual reality.
What Is VR Anyway?
Virtual reality is the most immersive way to experience the incredible stories and action-packed adventures developers have to offer. Generally, there are three main types of VR. PCVR is what it says on the tin, a VR headset connects to your PC, which does most of the work. Console VR, like PCVR, requires an extra device to do most of the rendering and input handling, in this case a gaming console. Finally, Standalone VR headsets use powerful onboard processors to allow fully wireless virtual reality gaming.
In this guide, we’re explaining everything you need to know to choose what type of virtual reality headset is right for you. Console, PCVR, or standalone? The choice is yours.
Wired or wireless? A tale as old as time. The choice between the two can be difficult to make, so we’re breaking down some great products from both sides of the fence.
Ever wanted to stream from your PSVR2 headset? In this guide we’ve got all the deets on how to do just that!
A cultural phenomenon, game of the century, and holder of childhood nostalgia, Minecraft has been around in one form or another since 2009! But did you know you can actually play Minecraft in VR?
Want to play your favourite game on a giant screen? In this article we’ve got all the deets on how to use your VR headset to play non-VR games.
Got a new VR headset or looking to restart your VR gaming? We’ve got all the tips you need for smooth gameplay.
VR headsets are like gym equipment; they’re magnets for sweat, fingerprints, and a prime breeding ground for germs. In this article, we’re covering everything you need to know to keep yours fresh, clean, and ready for action.
VR FAQ
What is PCVR?
PCVR stands for PC-based Virtual Reality. Essentially, this is where your headset connects to your gaming PC via a cable or wirelessly.
How does PCVR work?
PCVR, or PC-based Virtual Reality, refers to connecting a VR headset to a gaming PC, either with a cable or wirelessly
Can you play PCVR on Quest 2?
The Meta Quest 2 can play PCVR games via a tether cable or wirelessly with Airlink.
Can my PC run PCVR?
The requirements for many PCVR games have significantly decreased over the last few years in comparison to the average gaming PC’s specifications. Whether you can play PCVR will depend on individual game requirements. However, generally speaking, an RTX 4060 and Intel i5 or equivalent is more than enough to play most PCVR titles.
Which VR Headset Should I Buy?
When it comes to choosing a VR headset, you’ll need to consider budget, wired or wireless connectivity, and whether you want a standalone experience. Overclockers UK has a whole host of VR headsets for you to check out from HTC VIVE, including full PCVR kits with lighthouse tracking and even wireless options like the HTC VIVE XR Elite All-in-one XR and PC-VR Gaming System.
HTC VIVE PRO 2 Full Kit – HD VR Headset, Controllers, Base Stations
- Explore VR content in brilliant clarity and bring out the finer details with a combined 4896 x 2448 resolution.
- 120° horizontal field of view (FOV) expands your visual experience and better aligns with the human eye, letting you see more naturally.
- Stay in the moment with precision SteamVR™ Tracking that provides 360-degree coverage of your movement to the millimeter.
HTC VIVE XR Elite All-in-one XR and PC-VR Gaming System
- Convertible form factor. Detach the battery cradle for enhanced portability.
- Vivid passthrough. Blend physical and virtual worlds. Expand play. New possibilities.
- Lightweight XR. A sleek, compact headset that goes where you go.
- Finely tuned viewing. Adjustable IPD and diopter dials for the most natural and clearest visual experience.
What PC Do I Need For VR?
You will need a pretty good gaming PC to play VR games. However, the requirements are nowhere near as high as they were just a few years ago. Some PCVR games will require super high-end hardware; however, the vast majority have very reasonable PC System Requirements.
Virtual reality gaming is the most immersive way to experience the incredible stories and action-packed adventures developers have to offer. In this article, we’re covering everything you need to play PCVR.
VR PC Recommendations
| Component | Minimum Specs | Recommended Specs |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i5 or equivalent | Intel Core i7 or equivalent |
| Graphics Card | NVIDIA RTX 4060 or equivalent | NVIDIA RTX 4080 or equivalent |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 / DDR5 | 16GB DDR5 |
| Storage | Solid State Drive | NVME Solid State Drive |
Overclockers UK has a huge range of VR-ready gaming PCs, including customisable and next day delivery options. If you prefer to build your own VR gaming rig, make sure to check out our selection of PC components.
At Overclockers UK, we have our exciting range of pre-built PCs – Refract Gaming – and they have been updated with shiny new tech!
OcUK Gaming Empath – AMD Ryzen 7 7700X, RTX 4070 Gaming PC
- AMD Ryzen 7 7700X Eight Core Processor with 5.4GHz Boost
- 32B DDR5 5600MHz Dual Channel Kit
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 12GB Graphics Card
- 2.5Gb LAN, WIFI 6 & Bluetooth
- Ideal For VR Gaming
OcUK Gaming Rapier – AMD Ryzen 5 7600, GeForce RTX 4070 Super Gaming PC
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600 3.8GHz (up to 5.1GHz Boost) Six Core Processor
- 240mm AIO Liquid Cooler
- 32GB DDR5 5600MHz Dual Channel Kit
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super 12GB Graphics Card
What VR Games Should I Get?
There are more VR games worth playing than ever. With AAA titles such as Assassin’s Creed Nexus and the upcoming Metro Awakening, there’s never been a better time to join in. We’ve covered countless VR games here on the Overclockers UK blog, here’s some of our highlights!
Brace yourselves, Alien fans—Alien: Rogue Incursion is bringing the spine-chilling terror of the Xenomorph universe to VR. Rogue Incursion is the franchise’s first foray into VR and is set to plunge players deep into the heart of the Alien series.
Have We Missed Anything?
If there’s a game or topic you think we’ve missed, make sure to let us know in the comments.
PC specs are subject to change.
- 6 min read
Robert Mullane
Author
When not working, you'll find me in VR or losing in bottom-tier Valorant matches. I write about all topic's tech and gaming with a particular focus on representation in gaming, virtual reality, and LGBTQ+ themes. If you're still not fed up with me, you can also catch me over on the Overclockers UK TikTok and YouTube accounts.
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