Introduction
VR streaming has made virtual reality more accessible and interactive. It allows users to share their immersive experiences with others in real time, bridging the gap between the virtual and real worlds. This technology has opened new possibilities for entertainment, education, and social connection. Let's take a look at what VR streaming is and some of its benefits.
What Is VR Streaming?
VR streaming allows users to project VR content from a headset to a television or computer and vice versa. This is achieved through basic technologies like 360-degree cameras that capture a user's immediate surroundings and high-speed internet. This allows users to view these images in much higher quality.
Unlike traditional streaming options, VR allows for more interactive and in-depth experiences. Instead of viewing a 2D, flat image on a television set, users can enjoy a 3D image that feels like they're attending an in-person event.
Things You Should Know About VR Streaming
If you have yet to try VR streaming and want to know how it works, here are some commonly asked questions about this technology.
How Big is the VR Market in 2023?
The VR market has grown significantly in the past few years and is expected to continue expanding. According to Precedence Research, the size of the VR market in 2023 was just shy of $30 billion. By 2032, that number is expected to increase to over $187 billion.
According to Statista, the number of VR headsets shipped worldwide has increased every year since 2018 and over 21 million units were sold during 2023. They also predict that over 100 million additional VR headsets will be sold within the next five years.
What do Streamers use for VR?
VR streamers often use a standard headset like the PICO 4. This allows them to display the visuals from the headset on the computer, which is then streamed over their preferred platforms like Twitch, YouTube, or similar services. They also use powerful graphics cards, high-speed internet, and often high-definition cameras to show themselves while they play.
Can You Stream VR to PC?
Yes, users can easily stream VR to a laptop or desktop computer. However, it will require a high-powered graphics card capable of handling the large bitrate and file size. Standard on-board graphics or older, less-powerful graphics cards will result in poor graphics and lag.
Users who wish to upgrade their graphics cards to support streaming in virtual reality are recommended to purchase an internal card that plugs directly into the motherboard, as most USB options will also not have enough power. All of that being said, streaming to a computer is an excellent way to enjoy VR in a whole new way.
How Do I Stream PICO VR to my PC?
With PICO VR, streaming to a PC is simpler than ever. Users only need to install a program called PICO Link on both the headset and the computer. This will allow streaming between the two devices and allow gamers to show others what they are experiencing through the headset.
However, Pico Link is currently only supported on PCs with Microsoft Windows 10 or above. Linux and MacOS users might be able to run the program on a virtual machine that emulates Windows hardware, although this is not an officially supported use of the program and it may not work perfectly as intended.
Does PICO 4 Support Stream Games?
Yes, PICO 4 does offer native support for games and users only need to install two pieces of software. The first is SteamVR, which allows access to the user's Steam extensive virtual reality library. The second is Pico Streaming Assistant, which is downloaded on the user's computer.
With this, SteamVR games can be streamed wirelessly or through a USB-C cable. However, this comes with a trade-off: a wired connection will have slightly faster speeds but can reduce the mobility of the gamer if their headset is tethered to the computer. However, if the overall connection is fast enough, the slight drop in wireless transfer speeds should be negligible, allowing gamers to enjoy high speeds and high quality regardless of the route they choose.
How Do I Stream VR Movies?
The easiest way to stream VR movies from a computer to a PICO VR headset is by using the Remote Play Assistant app on both devices. This is particularly useful as using a computer with a wired connection can improve internet speeds, which in turn gives the user a higher level of video quality.
A major benefit of streaming with Remote Play Assistant is that it allows users to watch VR movies without having to copy the entire video file onto the headset itself. As VR movies or videos usually have a larger file size than 2D content, this method is much preferred over the alternative, especially with longer films.
How Do I Cast PICO VR to My TV?
PICO VR can be cast to a television by using PICO Cast, an AndroidTV app that acts as a receiver for videos, games, and other VR experiences directly from the PICO headset. The app supports AndroidTV versions 4.4 or higher, which means most television models equipped with AndroidTV operating systems will be able to stream from PICO VR, even those that are a few years old.
Conclusion
Virtual reality streaming is a popular new technology that represents the future of virtual reality. As PICO VR has been an industry leader for many years, those who are interested in streaming VR are highly recommended to check out the PICO 4 VR headset. Pick up yours today!