How to Stream Movies and TV Shows in Virtual Reality
I was attracted to virtual reality by the idea that I could actively immerse myself in other worlds. I liked the idea of using a lightsaber in Beat Saber or training in boxing in Supernatural . However, in practice, my most enjoyable VR experience was watching Vivarium on a virtual big screen while lying on my back in bed. I had no idea that watching a movie could be even lazier! Share the joy of virtual idleness with this guide to streaming video on the Meta Quest 2 or 3. Speaking of the Quest 3, read my review where I test out the new Meta headset launching in 2023.
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How to Watch Netflix on Meta Quest 2 or 3
Netflix has been available in the virtual world since 2015, and during this time it has not expanded or offered anything more than basic functions. But it’s cool; I just want to watch movies anyway. Setting up Netflix on your Quest couldn’t be easier: download the app from the Oculus store, sign in to your account, and you’ll have access to everything you can watch on Netflix on your TV. You can watch movies both in the virtual living room and in “void” mode. I prefer the void because you can position the screen however you like, which for me means I can lie on my back with a large virtual screen on the ceiling.
How to Watch Amazon Prime Video on Meta Quest 2 or 3
Setting up Amazon Prime Video on your Quest 2 or Quest 3 is easy: download the app . Enter your information. Watch Prime content. Unfortunately, you can’t rent or buy Prime movies directly from the VR app, but you can watch movies you’ve already rented or purchased on other devices. The app itself offers a virtual viewing room, as well as the ability to place the screen anywhere. You can also view VR-specific 360-degree content like scuba diving and hot air ballooning. Amazon’s “Watch Party” was announced for VR back in June 2020, but it doesn’t appear to actually be available. Well.
How to watch YouTube on Meta Quest 2 or 3
YouTube’s Virtual Reality Center lets you watch all the 2D content YouTube offers, as well as 180- and 360-degree videos. Setting it up also involves simply downloading the app and entering your login information. Many YouTube channels are dedicated to creating and distributing VR content, so you can watch a lot of interesting things here, from adventures in the mountains to an exciting 3D 360-degree journey into someone else’s closet . YouTube also lets you rent movies directly from its VR app.
How to watch Xtadium on Meta Quest 3 or Meta Quest 2
The Xtadium sports viewing app is the Quest 3, which is a must-download for its novelty alone: this app allows you to watch sports in a new, exciting way. By downloading Xtadium either from the Meta Quest app or directly from your headset, you can watch free-to-air NBA games live from the courtside, sit on the octagon side at UFC events, sit directly on the turnbuckle for lucha libre wrestling. matches (see photo) and much more. A 360-degree view of your chosen sport is a true “hey” moment. First class VR!
How to watch Peacock on Meta Quest 2 or Quest 3
NBC’s streaming division is also present in virtual reality. The Peacock app can be easily downloaded from the Meta Quest app and/or your Quest 2 or Quest 3 headset. Once completed and installed, you will be able to sign in to your Peacock account and view all NBC content. There’s no real VR frills here—no 3D movies or immersive experiences—but all I need is a big pop-up screen on which to watch The Real Housewives of Miami while lying on my back, and it gets the job done. It would be nice to be able to move the screen vertically instead of just horizontally so I could place the screen exactly where I like it. But no matter: The Real Housewives is coming!
How to Watch Disney+, Max and Other Streaming Services on Meta Quest 2 or 3
If you prefer Hulu, Paramount, or another streaming service that doesn’t have a dedicated VR app for Meta, you can still watch their content. You just need to point your VR browser to the appropriate site, enter your information, and start streaming. Of course, these will not be 3D or VR streams. I streamed Max’s video using the Quest’s built-in browser and it worked great, but how smoothly everything runs will depend on your internet speed.
How to watch video files from your computer using Quest 2 or 3
The easiest way to watch videos from your computer on a headset is to transfer them to the headset. It’s easy to do, but you’ll need a USB-C cable to connect them. Once you’ve done that, all you have to do is transfer the file to your headset and watch it on any of the many video players available for Quest headsets.
If you want to stream movies directly from your PC or Mac to your Quest headset, the Skybox VR app will do that, as will Bigscreen (more on Bigscreen below). Skybox costs $9.99, but it’s a highly rated app that’s reportedly easy to use and lets you stream anything from 2D movies to 3D movies and videos in full virtual reality. However, Bigscreen is free.
Bigscreen: How to Get a Unique VR Movie Streaming Experience on Quest 2 or 3
While big-name video services like Netflix and Prime Video are essentially simple ways to watch movies and TV shows on a headset, the Bigscreen app is all frills and I’m here for it. This free app offers avatars, props, social interaction and more. It allows you to set up a remote desktop client and stream video directly from your PC to your Quest 2 or 3, and again, it’s free.
Bigscreen allows users to organize and join viewing parties where you and some friends (or interested strangers) can rent the same movie, eat virtual popcorn, and relax. You can watch ad-supported movies or rent them from the service, but everyone who watches must pay for the same movie.
Bigscreen also has public viewing rooms where anyone can join the party to watch a variety of different films and TV shows, from Rick and Morty to old episodes of Doctor Who , to Bob Ross painting shows and more. This morning I logged into a virtual cinema to watch a bit of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers , and then had a surprisingly great time watching a rerun of Dr. Phil with a group of strangers in a virtual living room. We threw tomatoes at the screen, heckled guests, and generally had a Tuesday morning party.