Video: How Well Does Virtual Reality Work On The Nintendo Switch?

i think pixel density of switch display is one of the serious problems for VR

I'm reminded of the movie The Jerk where Steve Martin's character gets sued for the Opti-Grab that he invented. I could envisage a lot of dodgy necks from wearing that thing. If Nintendo release a revised Switch with more power and a higher resolution screen, THEN they might pursue it.

Oh, my eyes...

New official Nintendo accessories incoming! Switch vomit bags!

I can't see Nintendo being happy to put any major titles on a "sort of works but it isn't great" attempt at VR (especially after Virtual Boy)
If we see a 'Mario VR' (for example) polished to N's usual standard, then I'd expect it would surface on a Nintendo console purposely designed to support VR.
I could imagine VR titles cropping up in the eShop but I doubt we'll see anything that renders the Switch as a viable contender in the VR market.

We know Nintendo considers VR and ways to make it comfortable for the player - nothing will certainly show up until they find a satisfactory option because one Virtual Boy was one too many for them. That console didn't even offer much "virtualization" when you look at the extra modest number of first person perspective in the already modest VB library. Virtual Boy was more of Nintendo's first shot at 3D in practice, but the rest is history; at least 3DS fared much better in that regard. On top of being a rushed blueprint unit in concept, VB - like so many "baddies" of the earlier game industry chapters - was really just a neat ambitious idea proving sadly ahead of the contemporary tech.

Not that it didn't get a handful of interesting games despite it all, and its controller appears to have had its share of influence as well.

So....?

Well, did he find it a good experience, a bad experience, an interesting experiment? Did he find it comfortable and did the footage create the illusion of immersion in any way?

The setup was pretty cool, but he didn't really share any thoughts on the experience.

Id be surprised if we saw it at this years E3 so soon into the Switches life span but can certainly see it being a thing for the future

Won't see anything anytime soon. Fact is a PS4 VR headset is incredibly expensive and powered by powerful hardware but still has issues. How can Nintendo possibly make one in the right price range that works with limited hardware power?

I actually talked about this a week or two ago in a different aspect though. Was as a way to make the joy cons not worthless lol

I recently spent some time with the PS4 VR and in all honestly, the resolution on it was pretty crappy as well but it didn't detract from the fun factor of the games. If Nintendo and other developers avoid going for hyper realistic visuals and focus on graphical simplicity/performance (think Battlezone PS4, Star Fox, vector graphics, etc.), then the resolution won't be a big problem and the experience could be really cool. I would gladly trade the resolution downgrade for HD Rumble feedback (imagine the sensation in your hands matching the screen), lower price than competitors and no wires (this constantly breaks my immersion with current VR setups).
Another key thing to note is that Nintendo can offer the hardware upgrade if needed in a way the other companies can't. In the future, they can just sell the standalone tablet (the core hardware) with beefed up specs minus the Joycons, Dock and other accessories for those who want to upgrade for VR seeing as the whole system is modular and people can use their existing accessories. This means they could theoretically sell a "Switch VR Upgrade" setup which features just the upgraded Tablet and headset for somewhere around $200. Personally, I think Nintendo may end up doing something like this if they pursue VR.

Whenever Alex posts, I read it in his voice

Is the VR market actually taking off? From what I've seen there isnt really a 'must play' app for VR yet, so I can't see Nintendo doing this until there is. Although that said, the Switch would be by far the cheapest VR device if the did and could capture a more casual audience.

pointless video

It not just the resolution or pixel density, the screen needs to be 90hz and that means the games has to run at 90 fps. Switch is struggling with 60 fps on batteries, it will never do 90 fps.

If they could get it to work in a smooth, functional way, I'd love to see a vr metroid in the style of the prime games. The first person perspective seems perfect for VR.

Although Switch VR probably will eventually come, as I believe I've seen others say, the Switch's resolution, among other things will be a major issue for creating a head set that would allow the Switch to act as a VR console.

Sneaky work around but I'd like to have heard his impressions too.

I have an Axon 7 with a 2k (that's 4 times the resolution of the switch) screen and the pixel density is still not enough without getting that screen door look in VR. I don't think VR will be viable until it is at least 4k. The point is the switch was never getting VR with a 720p screen.

VR is a flop. Nintendo will stay away from it this time, for now.

This guy is a fool, having 2 screens that are identical side by side doesn't create 3d. It creates a 2d image and that's all. They need to be off just a bit to get the depth feel.

@AlexOlney I must respectfully disagree. The resolution on Oculus is much higher, yet the pixel density is still an issue there in my opinion. Not enough to stop it from being enjoyable, but the image is noticeably jaggy. Dropping the resolution even further, and using a display not purpose built for VR - I can't see how this ends in anything but disappointment.

That said, I wouldn't be completely surprised to see this become a reality, because as you said, some of the hurdles can be worked around. Unfortunately, I don't think the resolution is high enough to actually be enjoyable.

I would love VR

VR is still relevant?

@EternalDragonX, Really?! That's fascinating. Have you told Oculus?

@Untempered-Link Oh there is. Resident Evil 7 in VR is just mind-blowing. Hear Dirt Rally VR is incredible too but not experienced that one yet.

People always laugh at Nintendo gimmicks while VR remains the biggest gimmick of all. It's a fun toy, but it's going to be a long, long, time before it's ready for long-term session. I think it will continue to exist in its own niche and will grow, but I still think we're a very long way off from it reaching a form factor that will make it mass market, if that ever happens at all.

I could see Nintendo doing it like a Super Scope 6 though. An accessory with a few games to play with it, but not a platform.

@Bsham It's so funny, I typed the below before you posted that...

@Untempered-Link I think the thing that most epitomizes the insularity of the VR market is that most of the VR loving fan base was convinced RE7 would be that must-play app that would make VR explode. When the VR niche is almost universally convinced that a niche survival horror game would be the thing that takes the product mainstream shows how much of an echobox the current VR community actually is.

wow, super interesting. I'd love to see nintendo's take on VR through some unique take like he suggests toward the end.

What if they insert the Switch directly in the middle of the head? That would balance out weight issues.

@AlexOlney I think it is a real and valid issue, but that it's not an insurmountable problem for smaller VR experiences. I'm imagining some little games like Face Raiders or WarioWare Snapped on the Switch could do well - but maybe not big open world games or FPSs.

Hey @Action51 - sorry if I didn't make my opinions clear in the video! I did see an issue with the Switch running at such a low resolution, but I don't doubt that Nintendo could work around the issue with very simple experiences. Like I mentioned in another comment - I'm imagining some little games like Face Raiders or WarioWare Snapped on the Switch could do well - but maybe not big open world games or FPSs. Thanks for watching.

@EternalDragonX If you look at any frame of the footage, you'll notice that the images are not identical, and are indeed in full 3D. I captured each eye with the Citra emulator and spliced them side-by-side for the test footage. Cheers!

I hope not... The screen door effect will b be really really bad..... Yuck.

Also VR for me than 5 min= major headache.

I'm not sure VR will become mainstream.

Literally the best bedroom I've ever seen in my life!

Not gonna happen until we see the third or fourth hardware revision of switch. By then they'll be able to cram enough tech in to make it viable.

Maybe you can use the switch for processing power, but build a better screen into the head set. This would also help balance it because the bulk of the switches wieght doesn't have to be in front, and its wireless.

@pubjoe He means the images are the same. they need to represent the scene from two slightly different images in order to get a 3d effect. Splitting one scene into two will not achieve this.

Wow! He's so smart. He must have actually looked at the images. Did you look at them too?

"Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should."

Um, aside from the resolution, the biggest hurdle the Switch has right now is head tracking. Unless there is an additional gyro sensor currently locked from use in the tablet portion, you'll just be staring at 3d imagery and not much else. Guaranteed a future Switch hardware update will resolve both of these issues. I can see Nintendo going VR in 2019(or 2020 if they feel like being cheeky), with either Metroid or MarioKart being the flagship title to sell the concept.

@AlexOlney they could make a headset that blocks of the sides of the switch screen possibly. Like this(sorry for my terrible drawing):
[ im g] http://imgur.com/TjjRjzW [/i mg]

@TossedLlama You've got to be kidding me. I was literally only watching that clip just now. Too funny.

Personally I think VR is absolute Rubbish so far. There is nothing that screams System seller for VR. I've Dabbled with VR and it's hard to find anything that you really feel comfortable with. I'm kinda hoping it will just go away and leave me alone

If anyone can finally do it right it's probably Nintendo. I just don't see people making a leap to playing with these things on their faces for hours and hours at a time

There is no point in pursuing VR right now. Forget about any potential technical shortcomings; the market for VR is simply too small. Most developers, including Nintendo, will have to dedicated resources into developing VR exclusive experiences; those resources are better spent elsewhere.

@Nintendrew well then

runs away

@Nintendrew gotcha, thanks for the response.

Well, Ocarina of time is running like...200X 400X400 or something like that on 3DS in 3D mode?

Might be a nice add-on for some experiences, but it seems like the Vive is still the best bet for a serious VR setup.

@Action51 Yes, something like that - although for this test footage, I rendered the game at 720p with the Citra emulator, so we could get a clear idea of the fidelity of the Switch screen in a VR setup.

I think the nature of the Switch makes for a better landscape for VR than Sony or Microsoft's systems due to its size, hassle-free portable mindset, and "VR ready" joycon. If Nintendo can work thier magic and make VR work right, I would be all over this...and I think the world would be too.

Yeah ya'll can knock yourselves out with that. The VR train is one that I will never buy a ticket for.

VR is not the future of gaming. just like how flying cars are not the future of commuting or how the Hyperloop will replace trains and airplanes

I think they will show it off when they get it working to a good standard.

@Bsham Have you forgotten the 3DS? If anyone can do it in an inexpensive manner (think 200 or less) is Nintendo and Apple (Apple could do it for 200 but it will sell it for 699).

I don't know if they realize how utterly stupid someone would look strapping this thing onto their face... Didn't anyone teach the VR headgear designers you shouldn't keep your eyes too close to the display?

@dumedum remember you said this when it becomes a complete norm

@Gregory123 go play Robo Recall on a high end pc before you make such ridiculous comments. Using some cheap version of vr doesn't count if you are coming back with that crap

@PlywoodStick currently those distances have the best results for FOV on devices.

@Kukwes now where did I hear that before.

@AlexOlney Even 1080P is too low resolution for VR.

@Gregory123 Not the future of gaming itself but I think in the near future with proper care it can become the 'racing wheel' of fps gaming so to speak. But I doubt it will be a 'must' anytime soon.

If anyone could do affordable VR that actually worked it'd be Nintendo. The Wii was the weakest 7th gen system yet their motion controls were far superior to the more powerful PS3/360 attempts. I think the reason for this is Nintendo's philosophy of putting gameplay first and their ability to leverage the best out of their hardware.