Half-Life: Alyx — Is VR “Saved” Thanks To Valve?

From chunky big 2D pixels to 4k high definition three dimensional ray-traced masterpieces — there is one thing you can always bank on.

Video gaming is always evolving. So are the platforms we play them on.

A Brief History of VR

Consoles and computers have been around since the late-1970s (proper) and while VR headsets seem like brand new tech — consumer virtual reality has been around since 2012 in one form or another; entering the mainstream in 2016.

That means virtual reality is over four years old at this point; longer than many console game system life cycles.

Until March 2019, virtual reality had some pretty steep barriers to entry. A powerful PC, expensive headgear and a convoluted system of sensors scattered around a large play area. This changed when Oculus released the Quest headset; a relatively inexpensive stand alone device that required no sensors and no computer — a device anyone can use; anywhere.

But has virtual reality gaming improved over the last four years?

Gaming Novelty Always Struggles

When gaming paradigms try to shift, developers often struggle trying to harness the new-found novelty into gaming that people love.